Quote of the day!

[Tow411]

Topic Originally Created by Wes Wilburn on Tow411 in December of 2009:

 

To Quote Linda: "As Towing operators we have all been beat up by the public so bad that we forget to come together for each other… But when a tower is being put six feet under, we can all join together… it is time for that to stop.. why can't we support each other while we are alive?"

 

Please consider this with an open heart and an open mind...
Be well, Wes

 

Graciesdad said:

If we want to consider ourselves first responders.....which we are....the brotherhood should be just as strong as the others. We can have our differences, but respect should be our #1 priority. I know its easier said than done with "certain" competitors......but give it up and find common ground.

 

mooresbp said:

AMEN!!

 

TowZone said:

Sorry, I will never agree that Tow Trucks are First Responders. What are you going to do if you are first on the scene? Are you going to be paid for being first on the scene. Are you going to justify your attorney fees should something go wrong and your the only one on the scene. There is certainly more to think about then just saying Tow Trucks are First Responders. Police, Fire, EMS, Haz Mat are First responders. Private companies which provide Haz Mat and Towing & Recovery Services are secondary, these companies stand clear of the scene until given clearance.

I never have scene justification for being a First Responder and I have to wonder how much a companies insurance rates will be once they are designated as First Responders.

 

Tom Jr said:

You never hear an attorney badmouthing another attorney in public.

 

Adams Towing said:

I have to agree with Tow Zone. I don't see us as first responders and i don't want to be one unless we are needed to assist in a rescue. I get paid to clean up the mess after all the life saving has been done. I do consider tow trucks as emergency workers but not first responders.

 

1Towman said:

Reading this post made me remember the old days before all the rescue trucks had jaws of life and all the extrication tools they have these days. I can remember winching doors off or taking two tow trucks and pulling a car apart to get some one out . I am sure glad those are the old days !

 

TowmanBlue said:

I agree that we are not first responders because we don't get the first call to respond. Rescue and fire personnel are first responders with police second and we play the designated hitter role or bat clean-up and always in a support mode to assist with stabilization and extrication. There is nothing wrong with being trained as an EMT or firefighter because training is beneficial to all. Just me nickels worth.

 

13thrattler said:

Those are some very wise words, from a very wise lady.
Gilbert

 

Graciesdad said:

I guess its all in how you view yourself......some time tow trucks are the only way to get a vehicle in a position to begin the rescue. Not often, but it is a fact for those who do PD/accident towing. We are dispatched immediately along with everyone else to a major accident, so if we are needed for extraction or rescue purposes we will be there, ready to go. I'm not talking a minor fender bender....but if a car is inverted down in a holler partially submerged.......

Maybe tow trucks in general are not "first responders".....but there are a lot of scenarios where if not for us either lives would be lost altogether....or injuries more critical than they have to be.......and we are in just as much, if not in some cases more, danger than the others on scene.
 

What are you going to do if you are first on the scene?

 

 

I'm not going to sit in my truck waiting for someone to tell me what to do....I'm going to see if there is any way to help or comfort those involved in the accident....and try and keep them safe if possible. There have been times we were first on scene, due to weather or location......there is a lot you can do.....

Also, I'm not talking about steering wheel holding low ballers...but those of us who are professionals who train and study the "what it" senerios.......

Jay
Indiana

 

5642 Tow saod:

Ron, I do not agree with your position, In all cases where there is traffic then the possibility exists for a secondary accident, the tow truck needs to be called as soon as the Police or rescue , or fire realize that a tow truck will be needed, the highway will not be safe to the motoring public until we have done our job, and until we are called as soon as the need is determined will the secondary accident rate come down.

 

quigma1 said:

Lots of viewpoints to consider but Heres my take on all of this back and forth: In my 35 or so years in towing, I have assisted in the extrication of many trapped victims, alive and dead. In the days before the Jaws or any of those other recues tools, the tow truck was the rescue. There were, times we were first in (Rescue trained) there were times we had to reposition vehicles at their request to allow full access to all victims, or lift vehicles off other vehicles, provide needed stabilization, etc. Heck, I've even taught several classes at the local community college over the years on how the tow truck can assist at accident scenes and talked about some of my expierences as a towing and recovery operator. All this was way before any of these towing and recovery training courses or classes came into existence. I believe I have earned the respect of the Police and Fire -Rescue in my community and I'm happy just to hear them say "Thank You" for my efforts at the scene when they needed me or any of my equipment to get their job done. You want to consider yourself a first responder? That actually means nothing to me. You'll know it when you get the call as eveyone else is still repsonding to the scene, and they tell to to "expedite". You'll know that you are a first responder, when you have a police escort waiting for you on the side of the road to get through traffic. I have been fortunate enough over my carreer to have worked besides some of the most dedicated, talented fire-rescue-ems and police officials you could ever find.

 

TowZone said:

I do not disagree with the value of the Tow Truck and its Operator. However, the scene does not belong to the tow operator until it is time to remove the casualty. Should the tow truck operator be the first on the scene, the level of emergency must be set. Just as when the Police arrives on the scene or Fire arrives on the scene. You must determine who is in charge and to fully understand everyone should have the video HATS that was presented live at a TRAA conference a few years ago.

I suppose my dislike for hearing tow truck operators who do not back off during the rescue. There must be some order to the scene or you have people stacked on top of each other, if you are not needed there then back away. Sit in the truck away from the scene and please do not use you unit as a primary block the roadway. Make sure there is an emergency vehicle between you and the oncoming traffic. Can you really afford for your unit to be down and the questions you could face from the insurance. Not really....... Then your not a first responder.

 

quigma1 said:

Points taken, but a seasoned operator that works day in and day out with all the agencies in discussion here, would know chain of command, whos in charge, the pecking order so to speak. Been through those classes. Maybe its because of my years in the profession, expierence in the field, and having a close relationship with the police and fire, that has allowed me so much involvement with on scene incidents. You know you have the respect of those agencies, when they call you and seek advice, input, etc. on a wide variety of things.

[yoBdaBenO]

Isn't it something, this topic is 12 years old. Yet, the industry has not changed much, with the exception of we see more video's of tow trucks coming together when there is a Fallen Tow Operator. Seem the Tower Down message goes out and it's like ringing a bell. But, ring the bell for an association meeting os a state event and less then half if that will show up. Where is the Industry going if we cannot unite as competitors. I know there is plenty of work for most of us. More work most days now then we have drivers. I think I might be glad when jobs are harder to find cause we get better drivers during those times.

 

I hear how we are all doing our best to be safe out there working along the side of the road. Yet, I still see the majority of companies no doing enough to be safe. I was told to shut up and mind my own business. Old man said Kid you don't know what you're talking about. All the while I stood there with my ANSI III Clothing and a Guardian Angel on my shoulder. I stayed and directed traffic around them before to left with the vehicle I came for. Oh and yes, they drove off and left debris in the roadway which I cleaned up. Cops took note of that and said it would be the last time they hooked up without cleaning up.