mushspeed

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the tower....his family .....friends and co workers....from your fellow towers in the UK ...

 

..the pictures show the SUV on the towtruck  was correctly  secured...  the tow truck has taken a massive  impact  and all of the straps appear to have held...

Sorry ...but it is guys like that ...give the industry a bad name ...

 

I hope DOT  gets their hands on them ...     in the UK it would be an instant prohibition  and the vehicle would be impounded  and a huge fine ...if it is not paid ...the truck will be cut up for scrap ...

I too have learned a hell of a lot through the board over the years....having been in this business all of my working life .....57 years and  counting...

It continues to educate me every day ......you  NEVER  stop learning in this business  !!! 

The last thing I want to do.... is cause upset to the bereaved families , co workers  or friends... but we do need to focus on the circumstances around these tragedies...

I too have a feeling of despair every time I read of another fatality or serious injury ....but I do think the tower down count  should be kept in place ...

I too have had a member of staff  killed....... and several  with serious injuries including one of my sons...and it is totally devastating......

I totally agree with the others....  complacency is a major contributory factor..... however...other  reasons include....little or no training..... lack of personal protection equipment  ( PPE )  poor quality equipment ....incorrect use of safety equipment ...lack of investment by some employers ....

I am not losing sight that there are many tragic circumstances that are absolutely no fault of the operative or any of the above and my heart goes out to every one of them .

In the UK and Europe...we have the same problems.....despite constant campaigning for tougher regulations on issues such as...Slow Down , Move Over .as yet,  no legislation is in place ..... many operators are working hard to improve training programmes,   increase PPE .....provide fend off vehicles / crash cushions ...raise public awareness....increased safety features on vehicles .....

However ...all the time it  is possible to buy a cheap tow truck on Ebay and without any training or proper insurance ... go to work the next day calling themselves recovery operators and no legislation to prevent it ...the carnage will continue ...

 

I agree with Carl   the owner / driver of the vehicle has to ensure all loose items are secured before moving off.....in any day to day movements....

however,   it is entirely possible to overlook loose items after a break down or accident  and the occupants may be traumatised  and not thinking clearly ....

We had a couple of incidents where items were  allegedly damaged or broken in transit ...following that,  I sent a memo out to all of our staff n a situation like that ..........   .to  ask the owner or driver  at the scene if everything is secure..... or if possible,  go in with them and check for themselves ....

 

John.

Congratulations  Ron and Chris  on 19,000 posts    that is a whole load of talking  !!! 

 

I am proud to have been a member since 2005 .....

 

I never cease enjoying  reading and looking at the way the towing industry operates throughout the world ...there are some very clever contributors on here,  past and present with a massive amount of knowledge and experience....... I dont always agree with some of the methods and points of view  that are expressed ....and we all have different ideas about the way we go about the job. based on our own  knowledge and experiences.. but we must respect that there is more than one way to do things  safely and efficiently ...

 

 it is an excellent learning tool  and I have used or made reference to stuff I have read or seen  on this forum  on numerous occasions to help me in our rescue and recovery operations over the years to give a better and safer service to our workforce, customers  and the community as a whole.

 

Sincere thanks       Ron and Chris....and  bring on  the next 19,000  posts.   

 

John.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Casey's family, friends and co workers at this tragic time....

 

From your fellow towers in the UK ..

 

John. 

That is a challenging recovery ...there is a real risk of pulling some more brickwork down...and causing more collapse ....I am not sure I would want to be standing inside there....

 

I think I would prefer to use a rotator or knuckleboom thus giving more lateral movement as necessary and better  overall control....

 

But sometimes you  have to use what you have got to get it done...

 

John.

 

 

Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Towtruck drivers Family , Friends and Co workers...

 

From your fellow towers in the UK. 

 

John.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Towtruck drivers family, friends and co workers

 

from fellow towers in the UK ..

 

John.

Randall....    The DOT and the Police in the UK are now becoming very pro active over load security and there are hefty penalties for insecure loads....and quite rightly too ...

as regards vehicles being transported.... 4 point tie down is necessary...  the way the rear of the vehicle pictured above is secured is perfectly correct ...

However .... the strap securing the rear of the load is in my opinion ...not sufficient. 

The last thing I want to be is judgemental at this stage of the loading,  because he may not have completed the securing before he set off.

But as it stands and If I was doing that job,  I would certainly secure both of the front wheels of the car  to the platform of the Tow Truck, the same as the rears …. this will negate any possible bounce that may occur.

Additionally....there is a D link on the track bed of the Trax machine ….and even if there wasn't, I would want to secure both sides to the platform as well ...thus giving ample security to both parts of the load. 

 

John.

This truck is an IVECO chassis double cab,  70. 180...= 7 tons gross weight  180 hp engine  manufactured in Italy...... 

 

but I am not sure who made and where the body and equipment have been installed....definitely somewhere in Europe 

 

It has a conventional spectacle type lift suitable for about a 1 to 1.5  ton lift,  passenger cab facilities, rollup doors on the equipment lockers.  

 

I am not sure exactly where this is located as most UK vehicles are Right Hand Drive and Europe is Left-hand  and could be for a pilot scheme of some sort...

 

but it makes sense for the driver to get out of the vehicle on the safe side, thus reducing the risk of being hit by oncoming traffic. especially on very busy routes.   

 

The interesting thing is.... it is liveried in the UK highways agency livery   and it may be being used as quick clearance vehicle on congested sections of the motorway system.

 

nothing official has yet been announced but a few rumours indicate it will be operated by govt dept. drivers and operated by the state.

 

I will update if I learn anymore.  

 

John.

We ran knuckleboom  cranes for more than 25 years  and we had several on our fleet ....

 

.the applications were  both for recovery work and general haulage  and  I found them an excellent tool in allsorts of different situations

 

We had attachments to enhance capabilities with ease ..ie    brick grab,  street lifter,  fork lift frame ...clam grab .....etc 

 

Numerous times we were able to get into places where the rotators couldn't get near.....

 

The knuckleboom is very popular throughout Europe .. and with the correct training and certification  are accepted on all police contracts...

 

I strongly agree with Randall ...that some sort of presentation  or interaction  event  would certainly help  satisfy the police of the capabilities 

Nice Job Ed....

the trailer looks quite heavy..

 

The traffic control vehicle with high visibility chevrons and message light board looks really effective....

 

definitely the way to go.... for additional incident awareness and personnel protection...

 

John. 

 

Video by "Recovery Tow Show" as Industry legends, John Coupland and Nick Ovenden sat down after the Boniface demonstration at the Professional Recovery Tow Show in Telford, Shropshire

Sad to say ....its the  " IT WONT HAPPEN TO ME "  mentality..    some folks are so blas'e it is impossible to get through to them...

In this industry the message has to be and always must be ...." Never drop your guard " ....

 

John.

Some more pictures of the show 

 

 

 

The Slow Down Move Over  booth   with  Campaigner  Paul Anstee  ( right )  and Bob Percy ....selling decals and  Tee Shirts ....all proceeds go to the towing industry benevolent fund.

 

 

 

Carrying out an end roll  on a gas tanker  using  the synthetic chains  from  B / A  very light and durable. ....I can foresee them becoming very  popular in future 

 

 

Lifting the front using 2 winches through 1 running block ,   all the control was through the rear winches, the front only for the lift 

 

A closer look at the chains and grab hook  ...all available from B / A..

 

 

The Hough Green 5 axle Volvo  and the Crouch Scania   recovering an overturned compactor trailer  threading through the gap and onto the trailer 

 

 

We removed the tractor first and then lifted it out of the way .....

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery  expert  Jason Farnall   a key member of the display team  checking out and packing his bags ready for home after the show ....he is supposed to be on light duties after  major back surgery  a few weeks ago   yeh right !! 

 

 

A very low approach rollback    4 degrees loading angle     by Boniface 

 

 

 

A rear steer powder tanker demonstrating  a new 5th wheel adaptor attached to the underlift crosshead, that  activates the rear steer controls ....thus removing the necessity to chain up the rear trailer axle to tow 

 

 

The very latest Scania  3 axle tractor  from Sweden   650 horse power    4 metres tall   

 

An awkward job .....nicely done with no additional damage ...

 

John.

 More pictures of the show

 

 

 

This is a 4x4 go anywhere winching truck....   made by Mercedes  called a unimog ..very popular in Europe especially in mountainous and isolated terrain  

The equipment has been manufactured  by specialist equipment company    Syren  Engineering  I had a rotator built by syren and we found it almost bullet proof 

This vehicle is fitted with front and rear mounted winches  and a huge rear spade  that can be driven deep into the ground  plus a crane for high pulls 

Sorry about the picture quality 

 

 

 

 

This is a double extending trailer  supplied to Mick Gould Commercials   by Rydam international    from faymondville Holland 

It has so many features ,    all wheel steer , raise and lower neck, hydraulic flip toe ramps , the suspension can be lowered to achieve the minimum loading angle 

 

Hydraulic stabilaser legs  for rigid loading 

 

 

 

The tractor is a category 3 heavy haul unit  double drive with reduction hubs

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have included the manufacturers plate  the numbers are in  kilograms   multiply that by 2.2  will give you that in pounds  gross weight in the UK    220,000 lbs 

The Professional Recovery  Tow Show ..the largest in the UK   took place at the Telford International Centre  it was pronounced a huge success  with record Exhibitors, Visitors and Vehicles on display  offering the very latest Towing and Recovery equipment  from mighty Rotators right through to ratchet straps,    off road winch trucks to depollution equipment , from the UK and around the world...

Business seminars   and a very strong presence from all the Towing associations,   the  gala night and award ceremony in front of 500  guests  was very enjoyable .... even a major power cut could not spoil the evening ....towing and recovery folk spend half of their working time in the darkness  no drama !!

 

 

 

 

A 5 axle,   twin steer, double drive,  rear steer  5th axle,  Volvo   fitted with Century equipment from Boniface Engineering  built to a very high specification for Millers Recovery 

 

 

 

 

A 4 axle twin steer  Mercedes  from Boniface  for N S  Clarke  Recovery ....    check out the top flyer 

 

 

 

 

A very light weight snatcher  ideal for getting into multi storey and underground car parks,   fitted with dolly wheels for that job with lost keys or stuck in park 

 

 

 

 

This is a very light weight tow dolly  aptly called a Stow and Tow   it all folds up and fits into the rear of the van below  it can legally tow vehicles up to  1  1/2  tons 

 

 

 

 

 

A double deck  transporter capable  of carrying  4 cars  .....1 on the top deck,   2 small cars on the platform  1 in the rear car lift  built by Dave Bland Engineering  for  Furness Recovery also equipped  with a  6 seater passenger cab....

 

 

A lightweight Roll back  with alloy body  built by Dave Bland  Engineering  for Bells Recovery

 

 

Proud purchasers  Mr and Mrs Robin Bell  checking out their new asset  with  ther friends from Highway Recovery 

 

 

A medium duty   using  NRC  equipment  and built by  Dave Bland  Engineering   check out the length of the boom ...  this truck was sold shortly after

this picture was taken.

 

 

 

 

A  Specialist  Street Lifter  for the  CMG  Group  specifically designed for damage free inner city  tow aways  a 2 car capacity up to 4 tons each  one on the platform and one in the spectacle  lift  built and supplied by  the Roger Dyson  Group.

 

 

A  double deck transporter for  NYR Recovery    the payload on the platform  is a maximum of 10 tons  and  an underlift  with a 6 ton capacity ...

Below is another landoll for the NYR  heavy haul  fleet 

 

 

 

 

 An easy track for  Crouch Recovery 

 

 

 A  4x4 recovery unit for off road work  complete with lorry loader knuckleboom  crane  for salvage recovery   for Welsh operator  Walls Celtic Recovery 

 

 

m

 

This is a  clever idea.....  an air bar  which is connected to the PTO controls  and when the PTO is engaged  the air bar extends from the side of the truck by 2 feet and has flashing and chasing LED  red lights  giving an added warning device for the oncoming traffic ...

)

 

 

 

Randall... Coal fired power stations are being phased out in the UK  and there is a huge emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources.....Wind, hydro and solar power etc, 

to my knowledge there does not seem to be any restrictions on wood burning at the moment....there are now many areas where only smokeless coal is allowed, but coal has almost disappeared in the domestic market anyway....  

The directives on truck and car emissions mostly come from Europe  and I don't think the Brexit  " debacle "  will make any difference to that.... 

there is a huge focus on hybrid and electric cars right now ….   the Govt have introduced certain taxation advantages which are designed to encourage the growing use of EVs...    

I currently have a hybrid SUV and I am saving over £ 1,000 sterling a year on vehicle taxation costs and that's without the savings on reduced fuel costs etc ... and am able to enter the ultralow emission zones without penalty's...  makes sense to me !

 

John.

   

In Europe and the UK ...all new trucks and Vans have to meet the Euro 6 specification  where it is claimed the exhaust gas coming out into the atmosphere is cleaner than when it goes in ….this is achieved by a complicated exhaust gas recycling system  ( EGR ) or ad Blue systems ...

Ad blue is a solution of urea and deionised water, man made, which is injected into the exhaust system... When it meets the hot exhaust gasses it releases ammonia... which is the catalyst to a chemical reaction that converts dangerous nitrogen oxides into two harmless products....Water vapour and Nitrogen.

These systems are not without their problems on occasions and can be very expensive to repair and replace but once you understand it …. not too difficult to figure.. 

there are various after market products that can be fitted to bypass these systems but the DOT have wised up to that and any euro 5 and 6 trucks that are found to be fitted with functional bypass systems will face immediate prohibition.

Several cities across the UK are  introducing Low emission zones where older vehicles are banned or  face hefty fines if used in those areas,

The centre of London is introducing an ultra Low Emission Zone where only Euro 6 or electric vehicles will be permitted.

So ...... sadly  The huge straight through stacks, the loud sound of power and the crackle of a Jake brake will be a thing of the past in many places...     

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the drivers family and co workers 

 

From his fellow towers in the UK ...

 

John.

Randall ….This has happened on a job I did a few years ago.... 

I attended a serious head on collision between a motorcycle and a car on a country road, it was obvious it happened at very high speed....   the rider and the driver of the car both were fatally injured ….the wreckage was strewn around over quite a large area.

the police, accident investigation team and the coroner all correctly carried out their duties over several hours at the scene and we removed the vehicles,

3 days later it was announced a further body had been found in the undergrowth over 100 feet from the point of impact....it turned out it was the pillion passenger on the motorcycle, after being launched through the air on impact …

he was only reported missing after his relatives became concerned he hadn't come home....  not knowing anything about the accident that had happened.

we had done quite a big sweep to pick up the debris and never spotted him.. I was advised later that his injuries were so severe he would not have survived any way..

after that ….I put out a memo to all of our locations to thoroughly search all accident scenes before leaving...

 

Yes... Semi Retired,  is perhaps an understatement.....I now only work 5 and a half days a week and don't take my phone to bed ...

 

I shall be going to Chattenooga....with Aileen and 4 other members of my family ....    

 

Unfortunately the Atlantic city date  clashes with an important family event that has been planned for quite a while  and I will be history if dodge off to the big apple  !!

 

 I am sure we catch up in the not too distant future ...

 

Regards   John.

 

Randall ... whilst I am semi retired ... when we were fully operational  we insisted that all disclosures must be made at the time of the job application and must be prepared to undergo a CRB  check  ( criminal record bureau) 

We then made a decision depending on the severity of the crime   we would not consider  a  habitual offender   or someone  registered as a sexual offender 

We had several staff members who had gone off the rails when they were younger  but were reformed characters , settled down and had young families.

With just  one exception ,  we never had any problems and they all turned out to be good reliable  workers.

The only problem we had .....they were not allowed to work on  our police contracts or allowed into the examination and impound areas  without  specific written police approval for each individual 

John.