Lockout Kit $49.95
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
Towed Over is a blog about the towing industry, tow trucks, repo, wreckers, rollbacks, heavy duty hauling and tow parts
Showing posts with label hooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hooks. Show all posts
Towing Benchmark: Municipal Support In Managing The Towing Environment
There is an older story that caught my eye recently for a number of reasons. On the surface it seemed very
plain. A heavy snow hit the Midwest city of Cedar Rapids making it very easy
for the police to see which cars had been moved and which were giant, unmoved
snow paperweights.
What
happened next caught my attention. The police announced that everyone whose car
was still sitting there had 48 hours to get them moved or be responsible for a
$150 tow. This was a great way to handle a difficult situation.
Having
the police stress the fact that they are enforcing laws takes pressure off the
towers who are often sent out to a hostile public
The
idea of an additional grace period instead of the immediate start of a towing
blitz showed fairness and compassion to the public
Finally
the $150 fee was high but was reasonable considering the cost involved to tow a
vehicle.
Basically
a difficult environment that towing professionals face was managed in a
way that helped mitigate conflict. Towing vehicles are part of police
enforcement and the public should see it this way. It is also the job of the
municipal government to ensure that fees are reasonable and to take
responsibility for them
The
management of the situation was a terrific benchmark of cooperation between the city government, the public, and the tow professional.
=======================================================================
Lockout Kit $49.95
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
Sometimes the best solution is a fair solution
One
of the most contentious issues between towing companies and the public is how
much to charge. Article after article is written about the constant battle of
towing companies fighting to get fair fees, and the public screaming that they
are being ripped off.
Both
sides are right some of the time. The problem is a handful of unscrupulous
companies make the vast majority of towers with fair rates look bad. It puts a
shadow of negativity on the whole industry.
The
other problem is that a tow company cannot work for free or wages that do not
allow them to make a living. That is why I say most towers have to charge a
rate that covers their expenses and leaves them enough profit to live on.
We
have a couple of options here.
1. Go on fighting it out in a battle between city
governments, the press, and the towing companies
2. Make an effort to have a set amount that towers and the
community can live with.
I choose #2......Easier said then done
I read in the Seattle Times that the State of Washington
has decided on rates. The intention behind this action, which is documented in a Seattle Times
article, is a start. Unfortunately, The State of Washington has picked a fee determination process which still keeps rates very high. But at least the issue is not being ignored. Hopefully a fair number will eventually emerge from this process.
Ignoring the issue is the worst possible course of (non)action for a municipality. I commend the states that are trying to move
the discussion forward. Eventually a process will emerge that regulates fair rates. Hopefully sooner than later.
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The Spectre Of Gunplay Rears It's Ugly Head..
I wrote about this a few years ago and I sporadically keep reading stories about it. The subject..towing professionals getting into gun related altercations on the job site. I just read about another case in Lexington Kentucky where a person held a gun right to the towers head.
The article I read did not go into intense detail but it did say the person being towed got into an argument with the tow professional. I would imagine this happens a lot. I do not know what was said but I know one thing, the minute the person pulled the gun, no job, no tow, or no argument is worth being dead.
My point is that the time to think about how you are going to handle this situation is long before someone pulls a gun. I am sure the tower did everything they could to avoid this and I am sure it was not his fault. What I am saying, what I have proposed, is that clear set procedures be in place long before hostility culminates in potential gun violence.
An individual tower, or tow company needs to know BEFOREHAND exactly what they should say if the person being towed shows signs of agitation or engages them verbally. Having set mental responses in place will allow you or your tow force to rely on this training and not just have an off the cuff reaction to the person that is threatening them.
Ignoring the patron is also not an option. A clear set of procedures for different contingents is the only option. The key is to try to get away from the job site before it escalates into violence. I talk about this subject in greater detail in a past article I wrote for American Towman. Contact me if you would like the link.
Be safe out there!
http://towindustryweek.com/News-Items-234/newsT-2-13-13gun-drawn-in-towing-dispute.html
===================================================================
Lockout Kit $49.95
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
T hook $5.95
Hook cluster with S,R,T. & Grab
$12.99
Warn Winch $999.95
Strap Ratchet $12.00
Start Your Social Media Plan Before You Need it: Basic Social Media Tips For A Towing Business
One of the biggest questions I get as a social media and e-commerce manager is what are some of the benefits of what you do. That is a tough question to answer in short sentence so I want my initial answer be
A Lot..Too Many To Mention In One Sentence
That is not a very productive answer so I will focus on one of the benefits that I think would be a good starting point for any towing, wrecker, repo, or recovery operation. The area I speak of is shaping public opinion and positive publicity.
One of the emerging benefits of social media and internet marketing is the ability to provide the information consumers will use to determine their opinions and decisions. The dissemination of raw knowledge and the interaction of consumers can make or break both your industry and your business.
The key to protecting yourself is to start a social media plan before you need the benefits. Begin shaping a positive image with consumers now. This requires a disciplined, daily foray into social media sites, search engine optimization, and paid internet advertising.
While I cannot possibly go into every aspect of this here are a few possible starting points
Research your name on the web and other social media sites and see what comes up. My guess is it will bring up your companies site and not much more about you than that. Your goal will be to put a lot of positive content on the web that portrays your company in a positive light.
Have multiple social media venues including Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Google Plus, Instagram, Scribd, Pinterest etc. that you post on almost everyday. You will begin to reach thousands of people for free.
Make sure to post consumer tips and positive towing stories on your site and blogs. These do not have to feature your firm or even towing every time, but make sure your articles offer information your consumers can use on related topics like car maintenance, driving in inclement conditions, or other things they will associate with driving, car repair or areas that connect to what your towing company does. Remember you are the information provider so get consumers to seek YOU for information. Also make sure your name or a link to your website is somewhere on your social media posts or documents if they are not already directly on your site.
Focus on optimizing your website and blogs to rank highly with keywords that will trigger your site and positive information about your site. I would consider investing in paid Google keywords that targets search terms your customers and public are likely to see. In the case of a towing company target the words that your customers are going to search for and have paid links to positive content you created. For example,you have five documents or stories on the web that feature your towing business in a positive light with links back to your main website. You will link a number of keywords to bring these stories on Google's first page when the consumer is searching for these keywords on the web.
Some words you might target are towing, wrecker, repo, towing with your city name, towing with your state name, wrecker service, or towing service. There are others but these are a good start. Driving traffic to your site with this method will limit negative exposure by steering the customer to stories about your company in a positive light. Only purchase keywords in the areas you service. Not just will they insulate your reputation, they will help you generate business as well.
If you have any questions please email me at msaks@ectts.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Saks
Editor of Towedover and ECTTS.com E-commerce Manager
Safety comes first. To the tower, doing the right things can be the difference between a great tow and disaster. This article gives tips to improve tower safety and is worth a look..
From the State Compensation Insurance Fund of California Website
From the State Compensation Insurance Fund of California Website
Tow Truck Operations
Tow truck operators transport cars and trucks that are damaged, non-operational, or parked illegally, aid motorists, and keep streets and highways clear. Traffic never stops, so tow truck operators are called out at all times of day, year-round. The job involves personal safety, driving, heavy equipment, and traffic safety, so operators should learn safety basics for tow truck operations.
Mind your personal safety; ensure that someone is tracking or has a record of your planned route. Don’t enter a situation that looks or feels dangerous; be calm and diplomatic when dealing with customers. When exiting your truck, be aware of the traffic around you; look and think before you make a move. To avoid a fall, use the steps and handles getting in and out of the truck; never jump in or out of the cab or bed.
Maintain your fitness for the job which may require stretching, bending, lifting, and climbing. Use good body mechanics and lifting techniques to avoid back injuries. Don’t strain, twist, or over-reach, and avoid extreme or awkward positions as much as possible.
Drive defensively and stay alert. Avoid alcohol, drugs, and medications that cause drowsiness. Follow safe hours of service guidelines. Wear your seatbelt. Obey speed limits and road regulations. Don’t multi-task; keep your eyes and mind on the road. When towing, use your lights or a light bar to signal your intentions and show the rig length.
Know your equipment rating and capacity; overloading may cause an accident. Be aware of your truck height for maneuvering under overpasses and bridges. Inspect the truck before each use. Check the utility body and mounts and fix broken bolts, cracked welds, or stress fractures. Inspect the chains and hooks on the rig; make sure the security pins are not bent or falling out and the chain has no bent, stretched, or hammered links.
Inspect the winch and cable often, keep it clean and lubricated; repair or replace if necessary. Use hooks and clamps rated at the same capacity as the wire. Maintain 3 to 5 wraps on the winch drum and rewind it periodically to lay the cable flat and even. Watch the lines so that they don’t get tangled; placing continued pressure can shear the cable and send it flying at high speed.
When hooking up a towed vehicle, block and chock the wheels before disengaging the driveshaft or the brakes. Try not to work under a lifted truck; if you must do so, block and chock the wheels, front and back. Use lockout/tagout procedures on the wheel lift, boom and winches while working under a truck or between the truck and towed vehicle. If you have a remote to the lift, boom or winch, do not leave it in your pocket or on the ground where it could be accidentally activated; lockout and secure the remote inside your truck until you are ready to use it.
When working in the tow-away zone, stay in the safety zone.
tow safety, towsafe, towpart, towing, winch, winch cable, snatch block, hook
Recovery Straps - Proper Usage
How recovery straps work and how to use them properly
By Robert B. of Gator4x4 Club
The right recovery straps and how to use them can make the difference if you can pull your vehicle out safely or if you have to wait on a tow truck. A high quality strap without hooks attached to it is the strap you want to use for getting a vehicle unstuck.he above is called a "tow" strap. The main reason not to use this for recovery is simple. If the recovery strap or your recovery hardware breaks, it's not safe to have a metal hook flying off at speeds in excess of 100 mph.Many people have been killed and seriously injured by using these straps incorrectly. These straps will not stretch because they are made for towing, not recovery.
Let me first clarify what we are talking about.How a Recovery Strap Works
The strap works like this. Say for example you are pulling out your friend, so you attach your recovery strap to the back of your vehicle and then to the front of his. As you drive away from him the recovery strap stretches just like a rubber band. The strap wants to go back to its normal size, so it has no other choice than to transfer the energy to the stuck vehicle, pulling it out.
Recovery straps are flat with sewn loops and no hooks. They are nylon, not polypropylene or Dacron or chain. Because the straps are made of Nylon, they stretch. They are safer than chains, easier to use, and not nearly as heavy.
Specifications
I've seen recovery straps come in lengths of 20 to 40 feet and widths from 2 to 6 inches. A general rule of thumb, each inch of width will allow you to pull out about 10,000 lbs. So if I have a 3 inch wide strap, it would be rated to tug up to 30,000 lbs. Many will then ask, why not go all the way up to a 6" wide recovery strap? The problem is that the strap becomes less elastic the wider it gets, which means it will not work properly. Typically a 2" or 3" wide recovery strap will suit all of your needs.
Tips for Recovery Strap Use
* Before ever using the strap, make sure it is in good condition ( no cuts, frays, or broken stitching.)
* Make sure the hardware being used is free of defects and rust. This includes your tow hooks or front hitch and the hardware on the other vehicle. If possible, the recovering vehicle should place the recovery strap to its rear end, which would be the safest place if the strap happens to break.
* You may be able to wrap the strap around a hitch, but I would not put it IN the hitch. I have seen a few people who have bent the pin, which then had to be cut out. Getting a tow hook or D-Ring adaptor to go into the hitch is a better idea. Here is an example of a D-Ring adaptor and how a recovery strap should be hooked up to one:
* Some older cars actually have tow hooks, but if not you must use your own judgment. Never attach a recovery strap to a vehicles bumpers, axles, suspension, steering rods, or a trailer hitch ball. The attach points must be to a secure place on the vehicles frame. Do not place the recovery strap on another vehicle in a way that it may be cut.
* Never, ever, attach a recovery strap to another vehicle with a knot. You should pass one end of the strap through the loop at the other end of the strap to secure it on.
* Incase the strap may break, lay a tarp or some jackets on top of the recovery strap. When the strap breaks (lets hope for the best, but prepare for the worst), the jackets or tarp will slow the recovery strap down before it hits someone.
* To help protect the strap from tears, make sure all logs and large rocks are removed from the recovery path. Everyone should stand clear of the recovery strap when it is in use.
* When pulling the vehicle out, drive very slowly. Sudden tugs may lead to damage to either of the vehicles or the strap.
* Once the vehicle is safely removed, inspect your recovery strap and hardware and hit the road!
In addition to these recommendations, read the instructions your recovery strap comes with. To protect your strap, store it out of sunlight and away from heat and keep it clean. Dirt, mud and debris embedded in a tow strap actually damages the fibers over time and can decrease its strength. After a muddy day of wheeling and recovery, always clean your straps by hosing them off and spray horizontally across the strap as not to push the debris into the strap fibers. Happy Recovering! recovery strap, recovery straps, towing straps, straps, tow parts, towing parts,recovery strap, recovery straps, towing straps, straps, tow parts, towing parts,
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