AMeRicAN TOWMAN exPO AMeRicAN TOWMAN exPO - Jerr-Dan

VOLUME 15, NUMBER 4 | november 2006
www.jerr-dan.com
An Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company
For the hard-working towing professional
RUNHARD is sent to you
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Join us
Comment
You’ve got the
We’ve got the
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Think Big and Build from There.
WANTED – SALES PEOPLE (NATIONWIDE)
Jerr-Dan Corporation has immediate openings in our growing Sales Department.
Complete benefits package and competitive salary offered. Travel is required.
Interested candidates should send resumé and salary requirements to:
JERR-DAN CORPORATION
Attn: Human Resources – Sales
1080 Hykes Rd
Greencastle, PA 17225
or e-mail resumé to: hr@jerr-dan.com
For more specific information,
please visit our website at:
www.jerr-dan.com
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Program Employer. Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply.
-Dan_Run-Hard07-06 Recruit ad Run Hard Ad Size=8.375”x10.75”
solution
e understand that each and
recovery. It has a tip load rating
every one of your towing
of 18,400 lbs. and a working radius
and recovery jobs has unique
of nearly 42 ft.
challenges. Every situation is different
• MPL40. Jerr-Dan’s MPL40 selfand every tow and recovery is unique.
loader is perfect for repossession work. It’s
We also know that you need reliable,
versatile enough for almost any job, with
durable equipment to handle those
a choice of three wheel-grid packages.
tough challenges.
• Pioneer
To have the proper
Alumunim
“Give us a call — or
towing and recovery
Carrier. Jerr-Dan’s
equipment for your
Pioneer carriers set
better yet, stop by
individual needs, you
the standard for towour booth — and let
must know what is
ing and recovery
us know how we
available. What better
performance. They
time than the present
last longer with less
can help you.”
to take a closer look
maintenance because
at what Jerr-Dan has
all major pivot points
to offer.
are greaseless. Available in fixed rail,
Join us at Booth #909 at this year’s
fixed dual angle or removable rail modAmerican Towman Expo (November
els, each has a 10,000-lb. capacity.
17-19 at the Baltimore Convention
For a more detailed sneak peek at
Center) to see the equipment up close
our booth lineup, turn to Pages 8-9, visit
and in person. You’ll also have a chance
our website at www.jerr-dan.com or stop
to talk individually with our engineers
by Booth #909.
and sales staff.
When it comes to towing and recovSome of the highlights of this year’s
ery challenges, rely on us for durable,
dependable solutions. Give us a call ­—
display, (without revealing too much
of course):
or better yet, stop by our booth — and
• Side Loading Vehicle
let us know how we can help you.
Retriever (SLVR). The SLVR retrieves
vehicles in less than 45 seconds from the
tightest spots. Its unique side lift mechanism allows the operator to approach a
vehicle, securely lift and place it on the
retriever bed and drive off without ever
leaving the cab.
• Rotator. This 60-ton heavy-duty
powerhouse is a combination of heavyJeff Weller
duty capabilities, superior design and
President
best-in-class lift, reach, stability and
For the HARD-WORKING Towing professional
Contents
4
7
8
Jerr-dan
owner profile
Going the extra mile is an everyday
business practice for this California tower.
Company news
product profile
American Towman Expo sneak peek.
12 14
16 19
20 22
business management
The ‘Warrior Spirit.’ Do you have it?
industry news
Texas Tow Expo roundup.
JerR-dan owner profile
This Minnesota tower loves a challenge. There aren't many jobs he won’t take!
industry news
show & go
What does your Jerr-Dan look like?
industry news
Our Mission
To provide you with timely information
about towing and recovery equipment
technology, products and safety.
“Since 1992”
Run Hard is published on behalf of Jerr-Dan Corporation, an
Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company, and Jerr-Dan Distributors.
Editorial office: 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803.
Phone: (800) 547-7377. E-mail: RunHard@cygnusb2b.com.
Printed in the United States, © 2006 Jerr-Dan Corporation
Volume 15, Number 4, November 2006. For Canada: Agreement
Number 40064547.
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Owner Profile
Going the
extra mile
Doing the little
extras for each
and every customer
is a practice this
California tower
follows every day.
“W
e focus our business on
our customers and on
the act of towing and
recovery,“ says Jan Qualkenbush,
president of Jan’s Towing in Azusa,
California. “We really specialize in
towing; we don’t diversify into servicing our customers’ vehicles but rather
we focus solely on towing and recovering those vehicles. This
is our expertise.“
Qualkenbush has more than 25
years of personal towing expertise
under his belt. He started his Azusabased company in 1981. Today Jan’s
Towing employs 35 people (15 drivers) and operates two locations, one
is Azusa and one in Glendora.
The majority of the company’s
150-a-day call volume is towing for
police departments and its agencies, as well as for the California
Highway Patrol. AAA, private tows,
local garages, gas stations, repair
shops and dealers round out the
company’s 500-plus customers.
Jan’s Towing typically performs
most of its towing and recovery jobs
within a 100-mile radius of its two
locations (which include all of Los
Angeles county and Highway 210);
however long-haul jobs are
not uncommon.
This HPL 6000 is custom-designed to facilitate the needs
of handicapped passengers. The vehicle incorporates a
chair lift, room for 8 passengers and is compliant with
the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
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Towing expertise
To aid in its towing efforts,
Jans Towing relies more and more
on Jerr-Dan towing equipment.
To date the company owns 13
Jerr-Dans, nine Shark carriers with
steel beds (one is equipped with a
102-in.-wide bed), two HPL 35s,
one HPL 6000 and one HDL 1000
50-ton wrecker.
“We have standardized our
carriers on Jerr-Dan and we are
working on the rest of our fleet,“
says Qualkenbush.
The 50-ton is one of the company’s most recent purchases and
Qualkenbush couldn’t be happier.
“We needed a good recovery
truck and our 50-ton has been
working nonstop since we took
delivery of it,“ he notes.
“I thought it would be a great
truck,“ notes D.J. Johnston, driver
supervisor and one of two to operate the heavy-duty truck. “However,
the HDL 1000 has turned out to be
even better than I thought. The 176in. lift makes everything easier. This
is the one truck I feel comfortable
sending out on any tough job.“
A customer focus
No matter what the load or the
towing job, Jan’s Towing has one
thing in mind: the customer.
“We treat people the way
we want to be treated,“ says
Qualkenbush. “Integrity, respect and
Jan’s Towing owns a variety of Jerr-Dan equipment,
including (front to back): a 21-ft.-long, 102-in.-wide
Shark carrier, a 21-ft.-long, 96-in.-wide Shark carrier, an HDL 1000 50-ton heavy-duty wrecker and
an HPL 35 light-duty wrecker.
Owner Profile
Jan’s Towing Inc.
Azusa and Glendora, California
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Wreckers:
Two HPL 35 light-duty wreckers
One HPL 6000 light-duty wrecker (custom designed to accommo-
date handicapped passengers)
One HDL 1000 50-ton wrecker
Nine standard-duty steel rollback
carriers with 96-in.-wide, 21-ft. beds/wheel lifts; one incorporates a 102-in.-wide bed
Carriers:
Services
• 24-hour emergency
roadside service
towing and recovery
• Light-, medium- and heavy-duty
• Vehicle storage
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Owner Profile
Header
Company News
Pierce Velocity custom chassis designed by firefighters
and police departments compliant
with the American Disabilities Act
by offering this resource around the
clock,“ notes Qualkenbush.
Jan’s Towing is one of the only
companies in the state to offer this
service (see photo on Page 4.)
Jan’s Towing also gives back to
the communities it serves by providing free transportation and towing
through its “Don't Drive Drunk“
detour program. With this program,
explains Dawn Tarver, dispatch
supervisor, anybody in the local community can call Jan’s Towing (any
time, day or night) if they’ve had too
much to drink to drive home safely.
“We’ll pick them up and transport
them and their vehicle for free,“
she says.
Response time is what Jan Qualkenbush’s customers
want most. “The quicker we can get to an accident,
the quicker we can get them back on the road to their
normal routines.“
courtesy ­— these aren’t just words
to us; they are the way we practice
business every day.“
This business philosophy is visibly
evident at Jan’s Towing.
One of the first things you’ll notice
is that the company advertises towing
equipment with wheelchair accessibility. This is accomplished through a
custom-designed Jerr-Dan HPL 6000
mounted on a 2001 Freightliner
FL60 chassis.
“We help make our community
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The little extras
In addition to the obvious ways
the company takes care of its
customers, there are little extras that
often go unnoticed — little things
like carrying bottled water (California
temperatures can rise to about
100 degrees F) to equipping towing
vehicles with crew cabs.
“Our competitors laughed at
us for buying crew cabs,“ recalls
Johnston, “but our customers know
they can call on us to safely tow their
vehicle and their entire family . . .
the parents, the kids and even the
family dog. The wheel lifts on all
our Jerr-Dans even allow us to tow
their boat.“
Driver training is also a behindthe-scenes benefit reaped by all
Jan’s Towing customers. Each driver
passes a background and certification test (both are required by police
agencies), in addition to extensive
in-house company training.
In addition to inspecting their
trucks daily, drivers are required to
fill the gas tank when the meter reads
half empty.
“You never know where they will
have to go a half-hour before their
shift ends,“ explains Qualkenbush.
“At the drop of a hat they could
be traveling hundreds of miles; our
trucks are inspected daily and are
road worthy at all times.“
Qualkenbush even takes this a step
beyond road worthy. The appearance of his equipment is extremely
important. The company regularly
shines all the trucks’ tires with
Armor Alls. It even employs a local
company to steam and detail the
undercarriages.
“We receive comments from our
customers all the time,“ Qualkenbush
says. “They tell us ’I know with the
way you take care of your own equipment that I don’t have to worry about
how you’ll take care of my vehicle.’“
Well-rounded
Word-of-mouth travels. Jan’s
Towing has the reputation among the
local community of being a towing
company that goes the extra mile.
“We take time with our customers,“
says Qualkenbush. “If a customer has
groceries that need to be carried in,
we’ll even help with that,“ he adds.
“We try to be well-rounded in the
way we treat our customers and in
the towing and recovery jobs we
perform for them,“ he concludes.
“Wherever we find voids, we adjust
our procedures. We’ve operated this
way for 25-plus years and we’ll continue to put our customers first.“ ■
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. recently
unveiled its newest custom chassis
— the Pierce Velocity™ at the Fire
Rescue International show in Dallas.
The Velocity was designed with input
from firefighters around the country
and features five significant improvements destined to change the fire
industry. It is also the first custom fire
truck to offer frontal air bags, available spring 2007.
The five most significant changes
are evident throughout the cab and
chassis:
• Increased space
• Storage and clutter management
• Safety and visibility
• Seats
• Maintenance
“Pierce asked firefighters from
around the country what they wanted
and needed in their apparatus, as
well as to envision the ideal chassis,“
says John Randjelovic, president of
Pierce Manufacturing. “We listened
closely to what they told us and then
we built it. The Velocity offers the
advantages and comfort that no other
chassis provides.
“Pierce is again leading the way
in custom fire chassis design with this
new model, which combines a spacious, state-of-the-art interior with
industry-leading technologies. We’re
pleased to provide a new fire truck
that has basically been designed by
input from firefighters.”
The Velocity features include a
big block engine (up to 525 hp),
147.8-in. flat cab, seating for up to
10 people, TAK-4® independent front
suspension and Side Roll Protection.
Pierce also introduced the Impel™,
sister chassis to the Velocity. The Impel
features include a medium block
engine (up to 425 hp), 137.8-in.
flat cab and seating for up to eight
people. Many additional features and
options are available on both chassis.
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corpration,
is a leading manufacturer of custom
fire apparatus.
Pierce offers first frontal air bags
for fire trucks
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is the
first fire truck manufacturer to offer
frontal air bags in its custom fire
chassis. The air bags, available
in spring 2007, will cushion frontseat occupants in the event of a
frontal collision.
Pierce introduced the new frontal
air bags with the unveiling of its two
new custom chassis — the Velocity™
and Impel™. The air bag offering is
the latest element in Pierce’s 360º
Protection From Every Angle™ program, a bumper-to-bumper program
designed to increase the safety of firefighters as they respond to and from
fire and emergency calls.
The frontal airbag will activate in
the case of frontal impact. The airbag
was co-engineered with LifeGuard
Technologies, a division of IMMI, and
is available exclusively from Pierce for
three years.
The Pierce air bag will also be
paired with the Pierce Side Roll
Protection™ system. This system senses
the exact moment of a side roll, and
then provides instantaneous passenger
protection, including seat belt pretensioners and side air curtains.
Upcoming shows
Date
November 17-19
Show American Towman Exposition
Location Baltimore Convention Center
City
Baltimore, Maryland
2 0 0 7
Date
April 12-15
Show Southeastern Regional Tow Show
& Incident Mgmt. Expo
Location Jim Miller Park and Coliseum
City
Marietta, Georgia
Date
May 10-13
Show Florida Tow Show
Location Coronado Springs Resort at
Walt Disney World
City
Orlando, Florida
Date
June 1-3
Show Empire State Towing &
Recovery Association
Location Ft. William Henry Resort
City
Lake George, New York
Date
June 7-9
Show Western States Tow Show
Location Silver Legacy Resort & Casino
and Reno Event Center
City
Reno, Nevada
Date
June 15-17
Show Wisconsin Towing Association
Annual Convention
Location Chula Vista Resort
City
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
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Product Profile
American
TowmaN Expo
Here’s a sneak peek at just some of what you'll find at the Jerr-Dan Booth #909!
D
urability . . . reliability . . . the power to handle the most difficult towing and recovery jobs. This is what you
expect from Jerr-Dan, and this is what we’ve built into every piece of equipment bearing our name.
Jerr-Dan offers the best in standard-, medium- and heavy-duty wreckers and rotators, as well as standard-,
medium- and heavy-duty, industrial carriers and vehicle retrievers. On these two pages is just a snippet of what
you’ll see at this year’s American Towman Expo on November 17-19 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Pioneer Aluminum Carrier
Forget the grease gun. With the Jerr-Dan Pioneer
Aluminum Carrier and its exclusive No-Lube™ technology, those days are over. The Pioneer lasts longer and
needs less maintenance because all major pivot points
are greaseless, and plated pins and composite bushings
never seize or rust.
60 Ton Heavy-Duty Rotator
This powerhouse is rated Best In Class for lift, reach,
stability and recovery. It encompasses a combination of
heavy-duty capabilities, unsurpassed pulling capacity
and superior design. The Rotator features a boom that
rotates a full 360 degrees, is rated at 120,000 lbs. while
the boom is retracted and can handle a side pull of more
than 68,000 lbs. No matter what the situation, extreme
stability is provided by the widest double outrigger
spread in the industry at 112 in. by 264 in.
Side Loading Vehicle Retriever
A revolutionary new concept in towing and recovery
equipment, the Side Loading Vehicle Retriever (SLVR)
provides unmatched performance capabilities for city
towing and recovery. The SLVR offers fast recovery,
provides unparalleled access to tightly parked cars
and never blocks more than one lane during towing
operations. In addition, the operator remotely controls
recovery operations and never needs to leave the
comfort and safety of the cab. This is the first model
of its kind introduced to the U.S. towing industry and is
available exclusively from Jerr-Dan Corporation.
There’s much
more to see!
Join us at Booth #909
for a closer look at what
Jerr-Dan can do to help
your towing business
Run Hard.
MPL40 Wrecker
The perfect combination of technology and brute force,
this light-duty, integrated wrecker is versatile enough for
almost any job, with a choice of three wheel grid packages: Self-loader style; Manual pivoting T37 L-arm style;
or Manual L-arm. It’s easy to operate with best-in-class
visibility. The tapered deck increases visibility and the
exclusive Jerr-Dan No-Lube™ system saves time and
cost. This easy-to-use wrecker gives you the flexibility
to tow more and be more productive than you ever
thought possible.
wreckers
durability
carriers
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reliability
innovative design
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360
24 ,600
53,000
68,000
°
BOOM ROTATION
LBS.
AT 43' BOOM EXTENSION AND 50° BOOM ELEVATION
LBS.
AT 24' BOOM EXTENSION AND 30° BOOM ELEVATION
SIDE PULL WHILE STILL ANCHORED
*
*
With the industry’s widest outrigger footprint area, 112" X 264"
this wide platform base and correct placement provide extreme stability
LBS.
The Jerr-Dan
60-Ton Heavy-Duty Rotator reaches farther and lifts more.
WORK THE NUMBERS.
.
You’ll see no other truck adds up.
*Front, rear, front outrigger
© 2 0 0 6 J E R R - D A N C O R P O R AT I O N
® J E R R - D A N A N D T H E J E R R - D A N L O G O A R E R E G I S T E R E D T R A D E M A R K S O F J E R R - D A N C O R P O R AT I O N , G R E E N C A S T L E , PA .
www.jerrdan.com
Business Management
The
‘Warrior Spirit'
Do you have it?
By Brent and Cheri Ellison-Carroll of Ellison’s Towing Inc.
T
he “Warrior Spirit.“ What is it? How does it
relate to towing? The term “Warrior Spirit“ is
used by many successful people to describe their
life and business models.
Does your company have the Warrior Spirit? Should
it? Do you need it for your survival in today’s business
climate? We believe the correct answer to all these
questions is a resounding “YES“!
SPIRIT ON TV
The Warrior Spirit. Legendary rock-n-roller-turnedoutdoor-sportsman Ted Nugent uses this term to
describe both his outlook on his personal life and the
winning contestant on his hit television show, “Wanted:
Ted or Alive.“ In this spin on reality shows, male and
female contestants are subjected to different tasks that
encompass mankind’s basic survival skills: primitive fire
and shelter building, hunting, trapping, butchering and
cooking. It also requires the contestants to remain in
total harmony with nature.
As Nugent explains, “Only the person with the true
Warrior Spirit deep within him/her will triumph in
these contests.“
And it’s true. As you watch each person go through
the events, week after week, you realize that the object
of the challenge is to test each individual’s mettle; to see
just what types of adversity they can be subjected to and
still triumph. The object is to determine who in this day
of “soft living“ is still capable of producing the Warrior
Spirit within themselves.
SPIRIT IN BUSINESS
An example of the Warrior Spirit in business is none
other than Southwest Airlines co-founder, current chairman and former CEO and president, Herb Kelleher. He
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requires
all employees to have
a Warrior
Spirit because
he says his heroes have
always been warriors.
The Warrior Spirit is also how the company got
started more than 35 years ago. Realize that Kelleher
isn’t just talking the talk; he has for many years also
walked the walk.
It took tremendous amounts of the Warrior Spirit for
Southwest Airlines to transform itself into the success
story it is today. When it first began, the airline wasn’t
allowed to fly! Kelleher, acting as the airline’s attorney,
battled 10 years of continuous lawsuits filed by competitors, all aimed at never letting this upstart airline get off
the ground!
After a few years, the Southwest Airlines board (then
known as Air Southwest) told Kelleher to hang it up. He
offered to work without pay and handle all the legal
costs himself for as long as it took to win!
They reluctantly agreed and Kelleher took it one lawsuit at a time, all the way to the Supreme Court. He won
unprecedented rulings that no one in the legal world
believed even remotely possible.
He WON, attributing his victory to Warrior Spirit.
“I’ve always had The Warrior Spirit in me,“ Kelleher
says. “I was enraged by the anti-competitive activities of
the other carriers. I believe in what this country stands
for — freedom.“
THE MEANING OF SPIRIT
So what is Warrior Spirit? As can be gleaned from
the previous examples, it is simply bold, dogged, and
when needed, fierce, determination in the face of challenges, NO MATTER THE ODDS.
Throughout history, certain famous individuals
have stood out above the crowd. Joshua and David,
(of biblical times), William Wallace (immortalized in
“Braveheart“), Joan of Arc, Nathan Bedford Forest
(Confederate General), Patton, Macarthur, Churchill, etc.
All these men and women owe their place in history
to their unshakable Warrior Spirit.
My favorite quote is from Winston Churchill in a
speech he gave at the onset of World War II. He said,
“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win
without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the
moment when you will have to fight with all the odds
against you and only a precarious chance of survival.
There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight
when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to
perish than to live as slaves.“
It takes your breath away pondering the courage it
took to make a statement like that. But truer words were
never spoken. If you intend to succeed beyond your
wildest dreams, it truly takes that kind of conviction. You
must be able to FEEL it in your gut. When it seems all is
against you, nothing is going right, everything appears
hopeless, you must keep swinging.
SPIRIT IN TOWING
At Ellison’s Towing, we take pride in proclaiming our
Warrior Spirit. We interview and hire for it. We teach
it. We live it. We find that it has served us very well.
This year we are the recipient of the San Francisco
Bay Area and Peninsula’s first-ever Diamond Certified
towing company. This prestigious award signifies highest in quality through independent surveying by the
American Ratings Corporation.
Again, we attribute this to our Warrior Spirit and
unwavering perseverance. We believe in going forward
when everything seems stacked against you, maintaining an attitude of never quitting and a full expectation
of success.
No goal is too high; no dream is too lofty. In 1998,
we experienced more than 230% of annual rainfall in a
short period of time. Parking garages were flooded for
up to three weeks.
It was interesting to watch drivers and their reactions. Some were content to stand by and let the floodwaters slowly recede. But some weren’t.
A few waded out to hook up
recovery chains. One driver swam
When it seems
out with his cable and dove underall is against you,
water in order to winch out vehicles!
He loved it. The more challenging the
nothing is going
scenario, the more enthused he was.
right, everything
This is the Warrior Spirit.
appears hopeless,
Of course this must always be
balanced by today’s realities of
you must keep
workplace injuries and prevention of
swinging.
those injuries. But we believe one can
understand the spirit.
Not everyone has this Warrior Spirit. We have
found that the majority of people are content to be
led. But from time to time you will discover that someone special. Keep that person, work with him/her and
see what great things they are capable of doing for
you and for themselves.
These are the types of employees you promote into
leadership. They will not be content to be a follower. If
you know what to look for, they are truly a diamond in
the rough. They are the ones who will go far in life and
accomplish great things, if they are given proper guidance to develop their inner strengths.
Use other individuals with Warrior Spirit as examples. You know who they are. Go forward BOLDLY, with
an expectation of positive results and success. You just
might be surprised at what you discover. ■
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Industry News
texas tow expo
More than 100 exhibitors showed off their towing
T
he Texas Tow Expo was held August 11 and 12 at its new location — the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio,
Texas. (The show had been held in Arlington, Texas for many years.)
The move turned out to be the right one as attendance was a little
more than 1,600 people.
Jerr-Dan exhibited in conjunction with its Texas distributors: Coker
Equipment in Dallas, Texas and RPM Equipment in Houston, Texas.
Denny Buhrman, Jerr-Dan product specialist,
explains the features of Jerr-Dan’s MDL
280/110 14-ton wrecker.
Jerr-Dan sponsored Friday night’s Gala Event at this
year’s Texas Tow Expo. Approximately 650 attendees
enjoyed a complimentary dinner buffet and entertainment by LC Rocks of Austin, Texas.
Attendees checked
out Jerr-Dan’s MPL40
self-loading wrecker
on display.
Attendees were
able to view a
demonstration of
the HDL 500/280
25-ton wrecker
on a large screen.
The Jerr-Dan HDL
500/280 25-ton
wrecker on display
was supplied by
Coker Equipment.
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15
Photos courtesy of William Burwell, American Towman Magazine
equipment at this year’s expo.
Owner Profile
towing it
This Minnesota tower loves
a challenge. There aren’t
many jobs he won’t take!
Y
ou name it, Collins Brothers
Towing will tow it. Cars,
trucks, heavy equipment, large
safes, cows, horses, pigs . . . yes,
even large farm animals. When you
practice towing in rural areas of
Minnesota, all kinds of interesting
jobs arise.
“We’ll tow just about anything,“
says owner Phil Collins. “Whatever
our customers need towed, we’ll try.“
And that’s just what Collins
Brothers towing does. The 13-staff
towing company, located in Elk
River, Minnesota, has quite a few
interesting jobs under its belt:
• Pulling horses and cows out
of the mud. “We typically attach a
strap to the animal and pull a little;
let the animal rest and then pull a
little more. Eventually we are able to
get them back on their feet.“
• Pulling out a pickup truck with
a lift kit that was half sunk and frozen in a lake. “We’ve done a lot of
close-to-the-shore work before, as
well as work in neighboring ponds,
but towing a large truck from the
middle of a lake was a new experience for us.“
The key to it all, according to
Collins, is reliable equipment.
16
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vo l . 1 5 , n o. 4
N ov e m b e r 2 0 0 6
Owner Phil Collins is one of two
to operate the company's new
25-ton wrecker.
all
Owner Profile
Choose carefully
“The No. 1 thing our customers
want from us is quick response,“
he explains. “Fifteen to 20 minutes
is fine, but once they are required
to wait 30 minutes, they become
anxious. The only way we can
meet their needs is to have reliable
equipment we can count on
EVERY time.“
Collins turned to Jerr-Dan for his
company’s towing needs 10 years
ago shortly after he started his own
towing company. With 24 years of
experience under his belt, he knows
what works and what he wants in
towing equipment.
“I standardize my fleet with
Jerr-Dan equipment,“ he says. The
reasons he cites:
• Aluminum body. “The paint
doesn’t chip off aluminum bodies
and they are nicer looking,“ he
explains. “And as long as you take
care of them, they last a long time.“
• Standard, easy-to-find parts.
“All our Jerr-Dan equipment uses
the same parts.“
• Common controls. “I don’t
have to worry about the operator
grabbing the wrong controls in the
middle of the night; all Jerr-Dan
Collins Brothers Towing
Elk River, Minnesota
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Wreckers:
Two HPL 35 light-duty wreckers
One HPL 60 light-duty wrecker
One HDL 500/280 25-ton wrecker
Carriers:
One standard-duty rollback
carrier with a 21-ft. aluminum bed and wheel lift
Services
• 24-hour roadside service
• Light-, medium- and heavy-duty
towing and recovery
• Vehicle storage
controls are universal and located in
the same place.“
The majority of the towing equipment at Collins Brothers Towing is manufactured by Jerr-Dan. Pictured here
clockwise from top left: an HPL 60 with a 1994 GMC chassis; an HPL35 with a 2002 Ford F450 chassis;
a 21-ft. standard aluminum body carrier with a 2005 Ford F650 chassis; an HPL 35 with a 2001 Ford
F350 chassis; and an HDL 500/280 25-ton wrecker with a 1999 Peterbilt chassis.
Be involved
In addition to having equipment
that works, being involved in the
daily activities of the towing business
is another key to running a successful towing company, according
to Collins.
“It’s critical for the owner to
physically be at the towing company every day,” he explains. “Your
employees want to see you come in
and do what they are doing; they
want to see you get dirty. They know
that if you’re there, you’re watching
everything that is happening.“
The equipment at Collins Brothers
Towing is known for its spotless
appearance. (People have been
seen taking pictures of the equipment with their mobile phone cam-
eras as the trucks travel down the
freeway.) Keeping it that way is a
result of owner involvement.
Collins says he sees it all the time;
companies with involved owners
have nicer looking equipment than
companies with absent owners.
Collins falls into the category of
involved owners. The appearance,
and performance, of his trucks is a
top priority.
“Your trucks are traveling billboards advertising your business,“
he explains. “I want them to look
and perform their best at all times.“
To aid in the performance department, the company employs a fulltime employee to perform routine
maintenance and ensure each truck
is kept in tip-top shape.
vo l . 1 5 , n o. 4
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17
Header News
Industry
Owner Profile
The Wall
of the Fallen
Aluminum
beds are the
right choice for
Collins Brothers
Towing. Here
owner Phil
Collins uses
the remote
operating
option on his
Jerr-Dan 21-ft.
standard-duty
rollback carrier.
Collins Brothers
Towing is a
family business.
Phil poses here
with his stepson, Cody, in
front of his new
HDL 500/280
25-ton wrecker.
Although there
are no brothers involved
in the actual
ownership,
Collins Brothers
employs several family members including
brothers and
nephews.
unveiled
O
Serve the needs
of the community
In the rural areas surrounding Elk
River, Minnesota, staying visible in
the community is important.
The majority of the company’s
business consists of towing for the
general public and several area
repair shops in addition to towing for
the Elk River Police Department, the
Minnesota State Highway Patrol and
the Sherburne, Wright and Anoka
county sheriff’s departments. Collins
Brothers is also a service provider
for AAA, Cross Country, USAC, ERS,
Mr. Rescue and other auto clubs.
With visibility in the community
comes responsibility. Collins is the
vice president of the Minnesota
Professional Towing Association
and a captain on the Elk River Fire
Department, of which he has been a
member for 18 years. His company
is also nationally certified through the
Towing and Recovery Association
of America.
Responding to the needs and
challenges of the community is also a
top priority for this company.
Fuel prices and rising insurance
costs have forced Collins Brothers
Towing to increase prices, but in a
creative way.
The company set standard business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After
5 p.m., the call rate is raised $10
per call. There is also a fuel surcharge on impounded vehicles. This
increase has balanced out fuel and
insurance costs for the company.
Another challenge is abandoned
motor vehicles. The company is
required by law to hold all abandon
vehicles for 45 days. After that,
the company is allowed to sell the
vehicle, either for scrap or in the rare
instance, as a drivable vehicle.
Keeping up on the latest in towing methods has helped keep Collins
Brothers ahead of the competition.
Monthly driver meetings find participants “testing” different types of
towing situations from rollovers
to recoveries.
“The best training is hands-on,“
says Collins. “The drivers have to
want to do well; if they don’t want to,
we don’t want them here.“
Drivers are compensated differently. Some are straight salary; some
are salary plus commission; and
some are straight commission. Collins
realizes that every one of his drivers
is motivated differently, and he compensates them with a payment style
that reflects their personality.
Moving along
Collins has plans for his towing
company. One of those plans is to
expand into more specialized equipment transport.
Additional Jerr-Dan equipment is
also on the horizon. The HPL 60 will be
replaced with a new 14-ton Jerr-Dan
wrecker in the near future. More
equipment will be added as necessary.
“I’ve been using Jerr-Dan towing equipment for years,“ Collins
concluded. “I’m happy with its performance and I see no reason to buy
anything else.“ ■
n Saturday, September 9, the International
Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum
in Chattanooga, Tennessee, unveiled its memorial to fallen towers as it dedicated the Wall of The
Fallen. The event was attended by towing operators,
local officials, museum members and others from around
the industry and around the world, including representatives from Jerr-Dan Corp.
The memorial honors those in the industry who have
been killed in the line of service. Its purpose is to not
only honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,
but also to generate public awareness of the dangers
involved in the towing and recovery industry and to
permanently record and commemorate those involved in
fatalities in the towing and recovery industry.
For more information, visit www.internationaltowingmuseum.org.
DewEze is proud to be the supplier of
mobile hydraulics to Jerr-Dan.
We’re here for all your hydraulic needs—
not just auto loaders.
A Division of Harper Industries, Inc.
151 E. Hwy. 160, Harper, Kansas 67058 • info@deweze.com
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Toll Free 800-835-1042
R U N H A R D 19
vwww.deweze.com
o l . 1 5 , n o. 4 N ov e m b e r 2 0 0 6
Show & Go
Would you like to see
what does
your jerr-dan
Johnson’s
Wrecker
Service of Orlando,
Florida has been in
business for more
than 25 years.
This Jerr-Dan
14-ton wrecker
is equipped
with a 2006
Interntaional
chassis.
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vo l . 1 5 , n o. 4
pictured here?
look like?
Doug Young of
Bumper to
Bumper Towing
in Naples, Florida calls his
Jerr-Dan 50-ton wrecker
his “little-big truck.“ He’s
been so pleased with its
performance that he knows
his next heavy purchase
will be a Jerr-Dan as well.
This 50-ton rides on a
2007 Peterbilt 335 chassis.
Do you have an image of your
Jerr-Dan rig that you’d like to share
with readers?
Submit your photos via:
E-MAIL
to RunHard@cygnusb2b.com
(High-res photos only. Hint: Set
your digital camera to take photos
as large of a size and as many
pixels as possible.)
MAIL
to Editor, Run Hard magazine
1233 Janesville Avenue,
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
In addition to your photo, tell us
what model of Jerr-Dan you have,
what model chassis you have and
why you are submitting your rig!
Owner Sean Lozcalco of A Superior Towing in Davie,
Florida knows his new MPL40 wrecker will stay busy in the
company’s south Florida territory. A Superior Towing provides
service to the state police and county. Lozcalco is a member of
the “Incident Management“ for south Florida. This MPL40 rides
on a 2006 Ford F450 chassis.
20
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N ov e m b e r 2 0 0 6
Owner Jon Ellis of Excaliber Towing in Laveen,
Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix) owns this 21-ft.
Jerr-Dan Shark carrier. The diamond-plated bed
is 102 in. wide and rides on a 2006 International
4300 chassis.
This 21-ft. steel bed carrier with aluminum side rails has hauled A.T.V.s, tractors and everything in
between. The Jerr-Dan rollback is owned by Molenko Inc. in Brooklyn, Pennsylvania and has even been
used as scaffolding in Molenko’s Sign Shop! It rides on a 2004 International truck body and is
operated by Michael “Scooter“ Molenko. All striping on the truck is reflective for late night safety.
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21
Header News
Industry
Header
U.S.
& Canada Jerr-Dan Distributor Listing
Alabama
Arab, AL
Austin Hinds Motors Inc.
256-586-8161
Get
subhead
By Author Name
Rudy Smith,
left, and his
brother Ronnie
aren’t going
anywhere.
They are
observing the
ever-changing
New Orleans
market and
adapting their
towing
company to
serve those
needs.
On a warm summer’s eve there is
sadness in the air as the family of a
fallen tower prepares for a funeral.
As they lay awake that night, restlessly trying to cope with their loss,
another tower falls.
Competitors come together to
mourn each other’s loss. The question of “why“ and the expression
of “it’s just not fair,“ lingers in the
minds of all. And for those of us
who have been working diligently
for the past seven months to start
the process of promoting awareness of these fallen towers, this is a
harsh reminder of why we began
this project and why we must push
forward with it.
Unfortunately, these are the tragedies that keep this group moving
forward and pushing hard to get
worldwide involvement in this cause.
It is up to all of us in the towing and recovery industry to work
together to honor and commemorate our brothers and sisters who
have given their lives in the line of
service. We need to awaken the
general public to the dangers we
face every day. For this, we must
put competition aside and look to
each other for support and ideas
on how we can deal with this
growing problem.
The best way for all of us to
help – get involved. Join your state
association, join the museum and
contribute to the Survivor Fund. Find
groups in your state that are working on “Move Over“ laws and work
to get towers added to their legislation. Promote and instill strict safety
policies within your own company.
Post signs around your offices to
remind everyone to move over when
they see emergency equipment,
including tow trucks, on the side
of the road.
Each time you assist a motorist,
hand them a sheet of paper that
says, “Move over and slow down for
stopped emergency and public service vehicles ­— lives depend on it.“
It does not have to be anything
Dubuque, IA
Truck Country Iowa
641-330-2149
Sanford, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
407-321-8474
Wichita, KS
Kansas Truck Center
316-838-3800
Get
involved
Title
By Connie Antill,
Connolly Towing,
Arvada, Colorado
Riviera Beach, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
561-882-9050
Ozark, AL
Stormins Inc.
334-774-7138
Mississippi
Brandon, MS
Magnolia Wrecker Sales
601-825-6400
Kansas
Missouri
Toledo, OH
ABCO
419-536-6123
Oklahoma
Claremore, OK
Tri-State Wrecker Sales Inc.
918-342-4244
involved
Arizona
fancy. If you have children, ask
them to write it; then photocopy it
and hand it out. Saving lives can
be as simple as that. What is not so
simple? Saying goodbye.
The sadness filling the air at this
funeral will not disappear. There
is no bringing someone back.
However, this sadness needs to be
replaced by our resolve to remember and honor the fallen by doing
everything we can to prevent this
from happening again.
For more information on how to
get involved contact:
• Cheryl Mish, director,
International Towing & Recovery
Hall of Fame & Museum,
423-267-3132 or internationaltowingmuseum@comcast.net
• Jeffrey Godwin, chairman,
Survivor Fund, jgodwin@towpartners.com
• Lara Feinberg, founder and
president, Families for Roadside
Safety, Inc., Lara@f-o-r-s.com
Tempe, AZ
Todd Equipment, Inc.
480-557-8633
By Connie Antill,
Connolly Towing,
Arkansas
Arvada,
Caraway,
AR Colorado
Cars, Inc.
870-482-3614
Pocahontas, AR
Ward’s Wrecker
Sales & Service
870-248-1000
California
Bell Gardens, CA
Tow World Inc.
562-806-9155
Concord, CA
Best Equipment
510-569-1288
Fontana, CA
Gooding Enterprises, Inc.
909-357-7920
Fresno, CA
Valley Wrecker Sales Inc.
559-485-1513
San Leandro, CA
Tow World Inc.
510-430-9894
Torrence, CA
California Western
Towing Equipment
310-787-0208
West Sacramento, CA
Riverview International
Trucks Inc.
916-371-3110
Colorado
Commerce City, CO
Summit Truck Equipment
303-289-3161
Delaware
Selbyville, DE
Danzi Brothers Inc.
302-436-2000
Florida
Jacksonville, FL
Stover Sales Inc.
904-696-3496
Miami, FL
Rechtien International
Trucks dba
Wreckers Limited
305-888-0111
Tampa, FL
Atlanta Wrecker &
Carrier Sales Inc.
On a warm
813-626-2144
Kentucky
Burlington, KY
Tipton Auto Sales
& Parts Inc.
summer’s
eve there is
859-689-4222
Kansas City, MO
KCR International
Trucks Inc.
816-455-1833
Oregon
Lyons, OR
Santiam Enterprises
St. Louis, MO
503-859-2793
Archway International
service.
We need to awaken the
fancy.
314-771-3900
VERMONT
White River Junction, VT
Sabil & Sons Inc
802-295-4325
Virginia
Manassas Park, VA
Horton Truck
and Equipment
703-530-7800
Washington
Tacoma, WA
If you
have Equipment
children, ask
Northwest
Pennsylvania
Salesit;&then
Servicephotocopy it
sadness in the air as the family of a
general public to the dangers
we
them to write
Richmond, KY
Collegeville, PA
253-922-7581
Georgia
St. Louis, MO
fallen tower
for aof funeral.
face Miller
everyBrothers
day. Inc.
For this, weMobile
mustLifts
and hand it out. Saving lives can
Kentucky
Lawrenceville,
GA prepares Tebco
West
Virginia
859-624-0653
610-489-1900
Atlanta
Wrecker
314-752-5726 aside and look
As they
lay&awake that
night, restput competition
to
be as simple
as that.
What is not so
Parkersburg, WV
Carrier Sales Inc.
lessly
trying
to
cope
with
their
loss,
each
other
for
support
and
ideas
simple?
Saying
goodbye.
Louisiana
Matheny
Motor
Truck Co.
Columbia,
PA
Nebraska
770-963-0966
304-485-4418
Nussbaum Equipment
Inc.sadness
Omaha,
another tower falls. Gary, LA
on how
we NE
can deal with this
The
filling the air at this
Southland International
717-684-0189
Omaha Truck Center
Smyrna, GA
Competitors come together
growing
problem.
funeral willWisconsin
not disappear. There
of Louisianato
402-935-2442
Atlanta Wrecker &
LaFarge,
WI
985-876-3000
Greencastle,
PA
mourn
each
The best way for all of us to
is no bringing someone
back.
Carrier
Sales
Inc. other’s loss. The quesLaFarge Truck Center
Mason Dixon
Nevada
770-432-0097
tion of “why“ and theHarahan,
expression
help
–
get
involved.
Join
your
state
However,
this
sadness
needs
to be
608-625-4285
LA
Trucks & Carriers Inc.
North Las Vegas, NV
Southland
of “it’s just not fair,“ lingers
inInternational
the
association,
the museum
and
replaced by our resolve to remem717-597-9400
McCandlessjoin
International
Illinois
Marshfield, WI
of Louisiana
702-642-8789
Champaign,
minds ofIL all. And for 504-733-7711
those of us
contribute
to the Survivor Fund. Find ber and honor
theTruck
fallen
by Inc.
doing
Mid State
Service
Scenery Hill, PA
Prairie International
715-591-2591
who have been working diligently
groups
in your
workwe can to prevent this
Enterpriseseverything
Inc.
Sparks,
NV state that areASCO
217-352-4187
West Monroe, LA
724-945-5525
Silver
State International
for the past seven months
to start
ing on
“Move
Over“ laws and
work from happening
again.
Milwaukee, WI
Plunk’s Truck Parts
775-685-6000
Chicago, IL
Badger
Truck
Center
the
process
of
promoting
awareto
get
towers
added
to
their
legislaFor
more
information
on how to
&
Equipment
Inc.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Chicago
414-344-9500
318-388-4460
Jersey
Wilkes-Barre
International
Trucks fallen towers,
ness of these
this is a
tion. New
Promote
and instill strict
safety Truck
get involved
contact:
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
570-823-0144
708-496-7500
harsh reminder of whyMaine
we began
policies
withinSales
your
own company.
• Cheryl West
Mish,
Allis,director,
WI
Nussbaum
Corp.
Badger
Truck of
Allis
Southmust
Portland,
ME
201-288-3885
Windber,
this project
and why we
push
Post signs
around your offices
to PA International
Towing
& West
Recovery
Decatur,
IL
800-553-1927
Hews Company LLC
GAP Chevrolet
Prairie International
forward with it.
remind
everyone to move over
when Hall of Fame
207-767-2136
Shrewsbury, NJ
814-467-4596
217-877-8411
WI
Truck Center equipment,
Unfortunately, these are the tragthey Circle
see emergency
& Museum,Windsor,
423-267-3132
or
Maryland
Badger Truck of Madison
South Carolina
732-741-3130
Elmhurst,
IL
edies that keep this group
moving
including tow trucks, on the Orangeburg,
side
internationaltowingmuseum@comAberdeen
MD
866-846-0680
SC
Worldwide Equipment
Chevrolet
forward
and pushing JPhard
to get
of theSpotswood,
road. NJ
cast.net
Smith Services Inc.
Sales
LLC
Canada
410-272-0300
803-533-1585
Giancola
Corp.a motorist,
630-617-9848
worldwide involvement in this cause.
Each
timeMotor
you Car
assist
• Jeffrey Charlesbourg,
Godwin,Quebec
chairman,
732-251-4422
Plamondon
Camquip
LTEE
Baltimore,
MD
It
is
up
to
all
of
us
in
the
towhand
them
a
sheet
of
paper
that
Survivor
Fund,
jgodwin@towpartSimpsonville, SC
Quincy, IL
418-849-7575
Beltway International
New
York
Atlanta
Wrecker
&
Prairie
International
ing and recovery industry
to work
says, “Move over and slow down for ners.com
410-247-5700
Albany, NY
Carrier Sales Inc.
217-222-1518
Dorval, Quebec
together to honor and commemostopped
emergency
ser• Lara Feinberg,
founder and
P.A. Ruth
Automotiveand public
864-688-0170
Massachusetts
Del Equipment Limited
518-456-0356 lives depend on it.“
vice
vehicles ­—
rate ourIL brothers andLancaster,
sisters who
president,
Families
for
Roadside
Springfield,
MA
514-684-1760
Tennessee
Prairie International
have given their lives Crawford
in the line
not
have
to
be
anything
Safety,
Inc.,
Lara@f-o-r-s.com
Truckof
Sales Inc. It does
Rockwood, TN
Hornell, NY
217-523-5631
Indiana
Greensburg, IN
Hedinger’s Auto Care, Inc.
812-663-7885
IOWA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Truck Country
Cedar Rapids
319-365-0531
Davenport, IA
Truck Country Davenport
309-507-1525
Des Moines, IA
Truck Country Des Moines
515-265-7361
978-534-1954
West Hatfield, MA
G & S Industrial
413-247-9631
Michigan
Auburn Hills, MI
Fallsway Equipment Co.
248-340-2421
Detroit, MI
Santoro Inc.
315-526-1300
Muskegon, MI
Port City Wrecker Sales
231-773-2001
Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
Twin Cities Wrecker Sales
651-488-4210
Elsenheimer Chevrolet
607-324-3330
Port Jefferson Station, NY
Ramp Chevrolet Inc.
631-473-1234
North Carolina
Clayton, NC
Eastern Wrecker Sales
919-553-4038
Ohio
Glenn’s Motors
and Auto Parts
865-354-0622
Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta Motor Association
780-430-5520
Texas
Mississauga, Ontario
H.R. Runciman & Co., LTD
905-625-7222
Buda, TX
Wrecker Capitol
512-312-5655
Dallas, TX
Coker Equipment
214-742-5221
Akron, OH
Fallsway Equipment
Co., Inc.
330-633-6000
Houston, TX
RPM Equipment
281-590-1494
Canal Winchester, OH
Bob McDorman
Chevrolet Inc.
614-837-3421
Salt Lake City, UT
Rocky Mountain
Wrecker Sales
801-268-8850
Moncton, New Brunswick
Del Equipment Limited
506-857-4291
Port Coquitlam, British
Columbia
Del Equipment Limited
604-941-6241
Utah
Call 800-926-9666 for information on your nearest authorized Jerr-Dan Distributor.
22
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