Posts by Editorial Staff

Vehicles Most Stolen in 2021

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau For the second year in a row, Chevrolet and Ford full size pick-ups took the top two spots in the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) annual Hot Wheels vehicle theft report, and the GMC full size pick-up made the top 10 list. Of the nearly 1 million total vehicles reported…

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Get Your Wish List Ready

The 32nd Annual SourceBook for 2022-2023 in the September issue of Tow Times made me think of the Sears mail order catalogs I use to receive. Sears, Roebuck and Co., commonly known as Sears, was founded in 1892 by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck. It started out as a mail-ordering catalog company. At…

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2022-2023 Annual SourceBook, Hazardous Material Spills, Accident Debris Cleanup, Critical Industry Issues and More

The Tow Times September issue contains the 32nd Annual SourceBook, 2022-2023 — the premier buyer’s guide for towing industry products and services. This special issue also features topics that include critical towing industry issues, providing hazardous spill response, cleaning up debris at crash scenes and a look at the International Towing & Recovery Hall of…

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Words of Advice

Ten years ago, I asked the Wisconsin Towing Association board members what advice they would give to other towers. The following are some of their responses. I believe they would hold true today: Always keep a positive image to make our industry look as good as possible. Train and certify your drivers, and give other…

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TRAA Industry Update: Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program

Source: Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) press release: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to establish an apprenticeship pilot program that would allow drivers between the ages of 18-20 with an intrastate commercial driver’s license to operate interstate commerce under very specific conditions. To…

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AAA Activates “Tow to Go” for Labor Day Weekend

AAA is reactivating its “Tow to Go” program for the holiday weekend. The program is active from 6 p.m. Friday, September 2, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 6. It’s available in Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado (Denver), North Carolina (Charlotte), Indiana (Fort Wayne/South Bend), and Georgia. When called, AAA dispatches a…

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Connecticut Tow Operator Dies in Vehicle Crash with Tractor-Trailer

A tow operator died Thursday, August 25, from injuries sustained in a vehicular crash with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 84 in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Connecticut State Police said Zachary James Carlson, 20, of Danbury, was driving a medium-duty tow truck at approximately 8:30 p.m. near Exit 23 westbound when he failed to “slow down due…

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Compassion is Learned in Suffering

Compassion is learned in suffering. Compassion is the concern for the suffering of others, and suffering is a state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship. When a tower is in dire need for help, it takes a lot for that tower to reach out to other towing companies for help. Recently, after it was known…

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Miller Industries Offers Galvanized Steel Deck Option for 12 and 16-Series Car Carriers

Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. now offers a galvanized deck option for their 12-Series and 16-Series steel car carriers. This option is available for all new orders and existing orders that have not been scheduled for production. The galvanized deck option provides lasting durability and corrosion resistance for the bed. When paired with the existing…

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