Geri Roskopf’s Blog

We Need an Advisory Board

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be establishing and facilitating an advisory board to be known as the “Women of Trucking Advisory Board.” Their goal is to “promote organizations and programs that will provide education, training, mentorships or outreach to women in the trucking industry as well as recruit women into the trucking industry.”…

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I’m Asking a Favor

I met a wonderful, young female tow operator the other day. I told her how proud I was of her to take the initiative to learn the towing and recovery industry and become a tow operator. It’s not an easy profession for anyone to come into, let alone a woman. As women in a predominately…

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Valentine’s Day

What kind of gift would you like to receive on Valentine’s Day? Flowers? Chocolates? Jewelry? Romantic dinner? Or the perfect I love you message in a card? Or maybe a night off without answering the phones, or being on call? Personally, I would take all of these. No, I’m not being greedy. And no, I…

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The Good Guys

Tow Times  is bringing back a column titled “Good Guys.” It will share stories of towing industry members who do good deeds. I believe people in the towing and recovery industry are generous, and go above and beyond to not only help motorists, but support and raise funds for worthy causes, and become involved in…

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Run-of-the-Mill

As I was reading an article on how to recognize a professional tow operator, I was struck with what I thought was an oxymoron: “Your everyday, run-of-the-mill tow operator, above all else, is a professional, and treats you with respect.” I was curious of the exact definition of “run-of-the-mill,” because the way it was used…

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Now More Than Ever

One of the greatest gifts we have is the gift of choice. Some choices are routine, and some are life-changing. We choose how we react to a situation. We choose to have a salad or a burger. We choose to buy a GMC or a Ford. We all make choices every day; some good, some…

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Thank You

I recently had a phone call where, if I could have, I would’ve hung up on the caller. I was literally being screamed at. I’ve been in business long enough that I’ve handled these types of calls, and I’ve often found they result from a lack of understanding, or something was missed in communication. I…

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Weathering the Weather

No matter where you live – Florida, Texas or Wisconsin — weathering the weather is a big part of how the towing and recovery industry does business. I’ve lived in Wisconsin all my life, and I can remember some major storms — like the ice storm in March, 1976, when over 600,000 homes were without…

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Grandpa’s Big Red Tow Truck

My granddaughter has a book titled Red Truck by Kersten Hamilton. It’s a simply-told story of red truck — a working tow truck, not a show tow truck — saving a school bus from a mud puddle. My granddaughter is 2 ½ and loves to have me read the story over and over again. She’s…

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Take Time to Smell the Roses

My husband and I recently lost what I call the cornerstones of the family – my husband’s mom and dad, who I also consider my mom and dad. It’s been less than three months since mom passed, and while dad had heart health issues, we truly believe he passed away from a broken heart. Like…

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