doingitall

Your last sentence just described every motor club that has ever existed. So I do not think this is "the next step". What you are seeing is definitely a scam system, and I think we all see it, some more than others. I am in a rural area, and I sometimes see towing operators from 60+ miles away doing a variety of towing type tasks. I assume this is why those companies are in the area, but no way they are making any money most of the time ... We all know the type of operators I am talking about ...

Long shaft ball, drill a hole near the end of the shaft, and put a lock through? Picture might help. I have to ask, why do you need a bumper mounted ball hitch? Just for the camper? If you do not need it often, just remove if the dumbass thieves keep stealing it. if it needs to be semi permanent, put a tack weld or two on the nut/shaft. Maybe I am naive, but I have never seen an ongoing problem like that, receiver hitches maybe, but who is desperate for just the ball?

8 point tie downs? Nothing touches the wheels, just tires.

Grumps, for clarification ... I would bet that nearly every towing company in the US operates as a cash based business for accounting purposes, definition below: How does cash basis accounting differ from accrual basis accounting? Cash Basis Accounting: An Overview. The main difference between accrual and cash basis accounting lies in the timing of when revenue and expenses are recognized. The cash method is a more immediate recognition of revenue and expenses, while the accrual method focuses on anticipated revenue and expenses. That is what her accountant is referring to. So there seems to be some confusion in this thread about that terminology. With accrual based accounting, there can be some write off, but there will end up being a corresponding reduction when there is no income to offset. Really ends up being about the same anyway. But the assertion from MrsTow "I'm being told by an accountant, I can't write it off because I'm a cash based company!" is either something taken out of context, or not really understood correctly and will need some clarification from her accountant. Operating as a cash based company is how nearly all businesses operate in the United States, and the term relates only to accounting practices. No relation at all to how anything else in the business is handled.

I am not an accountant, but here is the reality as I see it. The actual costs you are writing off! The payroll is deductible, the fuel is deductible, the uniforms are deductible, the costs of the fencing for your impound is deductible, the property taxes or rental expenses are deductible, the filing fee, inspection fee, etc is deductible ... so your actual expenses related to providing the service and running your business are in fact deductible. I hope and assume these are actual expenses that you are keeping track of and are the real costs of running your business. The profitable portion of the equation is where you are losing, you have expenses that are not providing actual income to offset them. While it looks on paper like you have lost money on the transaction, and you have in fact lost some amount of money by not being able to collect, you have not in fact lost $30/day for storage since it does not cost you $30/day to store the vehicle, nor does it actually cost you $4.50 per mile to operate the truck or $235 for the actual tow. There is going to be a certain amount of this type of "loss" in this type of business, and we as business owners have to do our due diligence to keep these types of situations to a minimum, and be proactive at controlling our expenses related to this potential. These expenses need to be figured into your overall expenses for your business. While I agree that it is frustrating, infuriating, etc, we have to structure our pricing to be able to compensate for situations like you have listed. I too am frustrated that there is seemingly no way to recoup these expenses. The whole "blood from a turnip" thing. Do I want revenge - YES! Do I think local law enforcement could and should do more to assist with cases like these - YES! Should there be better ways to recoup the lost profit - YES! Should I be able to go after the registered owner easier - YES! Shoud the owner that abandoned the vehicle on me (and you) be arrested and charged with a crime - YES! Should every owner have insurance, and I be able to collect from insurance - YES! Would it be nice to be able to deduct lost potential profit? ABSOLUTELY! If I could do that, many years I could show a HUGE loss on my taxes ... Would it be nice to not have to figure these losses into my rates, thereby making all of my other clients pay for these f***ing deadbeat looser drags on society? ABSOLUTELY! I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee in my storage right now from an accident, and for a lot of reasons it is still sitting in a corner, with a storage bill around $56k! Would I like to collect - SURE! Do I expect to collect? Certainly not! Should I really be able to deduct $56k from my taxes? No, that does not make any sense, but I do continue to deduct ALL of the actual expenses related to storing this and other vehicles in my storage as legitimate expenses related to the operation of my business. I agree wholeheartedly with your premise, but the reality is a bit different. I am absolutely sure that nearly everyone here has had the same thoughts and experiences with these situations. THEY SUCK! We all get frustrated and angry, but you have a business to run. Minimize your expenses the best you can, be proactive on every job to try to avoid these situations, and accept that some F***ERS are going to get you from time to time. And try not to loose sleep over them, I like to think karma comes around to everyone eventually. Your actual cash loss (after getting $200 for the salvage) is probably more like $200-300, which you are in fact able to write off, and already are.

Garage Keepers Liability is general liability for the type of work we are engaged in. If you prefer, "General Liability" for those engaged in automotive businesses. "General Liability" by itself is not usually available for most businesses. Liability is specific to types of businesses, and for certain activities related to a business. General liability would be a term used for a liability insurance policy for a business that is difficult to categorize. Insurance companies HATE the term "general" ...

Garage Keepers Liability coverage is for exactly what you do! Accidently hook up a battery wrong - battery explodes, or shorts out ecu, or damages relays? Garage Keepers Liability covers that. Change a tire and it comes off down the road because you did not torque the lugs (or the customer does something wrong/stupid but blames you)? Garage Keepers Liability. Deliver fuel but put the wrong type of fuel in and and damage the engine? Garage Keepers Liability. Jack up a car to change a tire and the vehicle shifts and the jack damages the vehicle, or the vehicle falls off the jack and gets damaged? Garage Keepers Liability. Unlock a vehicle and damage the frame, weather stripping, trim, or break a window? Garage Keepers Liability. So many potential scenarios, hopefully you get the point ... That said, you certainly DO NOT need on hook coverage, or cargo coverage. Also, make sure your service vehicle is insured as a commercial vehicle, because if you get into an accident, it will certainly be considered a commercial vehicle. Hope that helps.

I can see 2 chains in the back, and 2 straps on the front, so it appears that the tie down is probably acceptable. I do think that the camera operator is the real risk in the video. The truck is clean and well labeled. I do not know the speed limit where this was taken, but there are many interstates in California that are 70 mph, and 10 over in most places will not even get the attention of LEOs. I have not driven a tow truck in CA, but my brother lives in the San Diego area. I can tell you that 80MPH is slow many times of the day, and you would be impeding traffic. I do not need to defend this operator or company, and it does seem from the video that he/she may be going a bit faster than surrounding traffic, but he/she is not weaving in traffic and appears to have a secured load. Other than the camera operator/car drivers actions being unsafe, the tow trucks failure to stay in the marked lane a few times seems to be the only real risk that the tow truck is causing. I guess I do not see a huge problem here besides the camera operator. Maybe somewhere in the USA drivers actually follow the speed limits, but not anywhere I drive. 10MPH over is the norm here in rural Iowa, interstates too, so 80 MPH on the interstate for me is pretty common in the rural areas when traffic is low. I worked in law enforcement for years before getting into this business, and I would not have even looked twice at this situation other than the car weaving around and changing speeds often ...

Depends ... So Progressive is going to be expensive, but may be one of only a few options for a new company with no history, in fact in some places they may be your only option. Reality is $4000/year for decent insurance is pretty amazing. With no company history, that isn't going to happen. There are very few companies that write towing insurance so there are not a lot of choices, and most of them are pretty selective who they will write a policy for. Progressive knows that, and so when you are talking to them, they know you do not have many options. I do not know if $9200 is a good rate though, that depends on where you are located, what type of work you intend to offer, what type of equipment and how many pieces of equipment you are going to have, and your diving history and your credit rating. I would talk with an agent that specializes in insuring towing companies. Most local agents, and the online portals will not be your best choices. I am lucky enough to have a relatively local agent/company that specializes in towing companies, and they got me a pretty good rate this year with Nationwide, but it came with some issues since Nationwide is somewhat new to providing this specialized insurance - rant for another day - but Nationwide is an option. So is Pioneer Specialty Insurance (was part of Western National Insurance), they are the company I switched from. Again, a specialty agent is where you need to start. Though I do not use him currently, Skip Bargielski (on this board) is a great place to start ... towagents.com.

Like TowZone, I too like Kinco gloves. I learned a long time ago that at least for me, there is no substitute for real leather. I too have tried all kinds of gloves, and I always come back to a few styles from Kinco that are real leather. Their deerskin lined gloves have been my go to in winter for a long time. My new favorites from them are their "Hydroflector" line of water resistant leather gloves. Dryer and tough. Most real leather that is not "suededed/suede" (read smooth finish, not rough or pile finish) seem to get better with a little grease and grime, at least for awhile. I also think leather is much better at protecting from the random broken wire that sticks out from wire rope, and the damaged sheet metal and broken stuff on damaged cars than the synthetic gloves. Reality is though that gloves are not going to last long in this business when used as often and the way we use them. My current favorite: Kinco - Hydroflector Unlined Buffalo Leather Work Gloves, Superior Water Resistance, Heavy Duty Reinforced Palm, Extremely Durable, Easy-On Cuff, Fitted Elastic Wrist, (Style No. 387P) - - Amazon.com. I get them at my local farm and fleet store.

Ed's is a long way, but if it is done right I can live with that. I would like to find something closer though. I do not have any experience with anyone really near me that does this type of work really. That is why I am looking for suggestions. I figured a shop that does tow trucks regularly would be a better bet that just the typical heavy equipment shop. Maybe I am overthinking ... I did bring it up to the company that is located in Iowa, I am sure you know the one ... I would have to sell one of my kids and mortgage the house for them to do the work. Clearly they do not want that type of work, they just want to sell a new truck. I have the truck I want, just want to get it fixed up and keep it working for another 10 years or whatever it can efficiently keep working. I am even ok getting parts if I can find a place to do the variety of work needed. A one stop shop would be awesome!

I have an older (2008) Ford F650 with a Jerrdan aluminum bed rollback (Pioneer) and a side puller that needs some refurbishment. The subframe for the rollback in particular needs some serious work or replacement. The rest of what needs to be done is a bit more routine, like cleaning up and painting some rusty spots, refurb or replace the hydraulic cylinders and the hydraulics, some wiring fixed, a seat cushion, refurbish or replace the tool boxes, stuff like that. This truck has been good to me and is in excellent condition with the exception of the bed subframe. I was hoping to arrange the refurb with Detroit Wrecker to do the work sometime this summer or fall, but have been advised that they no longer do this type of work. So I am looking for suggestions of who to take this truck to to get a refurb done to the bed and paint all the black stuff. So who does this type of work? Who have you had do extensive refurb work and been happy? Midwest is a plus, but willing to take it somewhere further to get it done right and fair. Let me know your experiences and suggestions! Thanks so much in advance!

Having looked into this previously, and a cursory search now, I cannot see where this is a change in Iowa. Tow trucks in Iowa are not allowed under "authorized emergency vehicles", and I am not aware of any municipalities that own tow trucks in Iowa. Iowa law, as far as I can determine, has always restricted red and blue emergency lighting to law enforcement and emergency responders only. Two years ago, a modification was made to allow state owned snow plows to use a single blue strobe, but that is the only modification I have seen in a long time. Admittedly, I am no expert, but I have read the law that is on the books several times previously, and there is not much change in the newly presented law, and none that effect tow trucks that I can see. It is a law that is rarely enforced at least in my experience, and in my area. I actually use green and white in my light bar, never even a comment from law enforcement. My mentor used red and blue on his trucks as long as I can remember. Even if convicted of breaking the law, the fine is $45. I cannot find anywhere where there has been any ticket written in Iowa, nor any conviction. Interesting story though.

We all make decisions ... not all of us make good decisions! (Me to my kids 100M times) Be thankful you got paid (hopefully well)! I see it as job security.

Do you have a link to where the information was found? I am not aware of any changes currently in Iowa, so would like to look into whatever information you found ...