August 21, 2025 • 48 mins
When the towing and trucking industries seem locked in an endless cycle of misunderstanding and tension, one Kentucky couple has found a remarkable way to change the conversation – by taking their 50-ton rotator to major truck shows across America.
Clifton and Joyce Parsley of Crossroads Towing are on a mission to transform how the trucking community views the towing industry. What began as simply displaying their wrecker with an American flag at the Atlanta Motor Speedway has evolved into a nationwide campaign of goodwill that's winning trophies, changing perceptions, and building bridges between industries that desperately need better relationships.
"We didn't know what kind of response we would get from taking a rotator wrecker to a trucking show, but it has really been positive," explains Clifton. With their impressive 6x10 American flag illuminated at night by boom lights, they've created a display that draws crowds, sparks conversations, and gives them the opportunity to educate truckers about the realities of the towing business beyond what they see on reality TV.
Their story gained even greater depth when Joyce, a registered nurse, was thrust into running the entire business during Clifton's two-month hospitalization with COVID-19. "I knew he was coming home, so I was going to keep his dream alive," she shares. This experience gave her invaluable insights into operations, regulations, and the day-to-day challenges of running a towing company.
From participating in Christmas parades with the Grinch on their hook to connecting with veterans who appreciate their patriotic display, the Parsleys demonstrate how community engagement can transform industry relationships. Their advice to fellow towers? Get involved locally, attend both towing and trucking shows, and pursue ongoing education through industry certifications.
Join us at the International Towing Museum in Chattanooga on October 9th for a live podcast recording where you can meet industry leaders working to strengthen connections between these essential transportation services. Together, we can change perceptions one conversation at a time.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
you're on the train to success with April and Wes
Wilburn.
I'm DJ Harrington, the co-host,better known as the Toe Doctor.
We're all on our way to thetown of proper towing and
recovery, along with ourproducer, chuck Camp, in the
studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
You coulda had done this.
(00:28):
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests iTunes, pandora,stitcher, iheartmedia or the
number one podcast, or maybeAmazon or wherever you get your
(00:50):
podcasts.
Turn in on Wednesday and beturned on all week long.
If you are a state associationand want your announcements or
upcoming state association newsannouncements or upcoming state
association news, or maybe aco-show that's coming up, let us
(01:10):
know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the american dorm
recovery institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April Loomis.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Thank you, dj.
As always, I appreciate yourkind words.
I appreciate all the effort youput into this podcast, making
it happen, getting it started,et cetera.
Is that April here?
April?
How are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I'm doing really good Getting through some of this
rainy weather right now, which,you know, we need the rain, but
when it comes we complain aboutit.
But um, wrapping up the,wrapping up the summer and
looking forward to a really busyfall boy, we do have a busy
fall.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
As I look at the schedule, it's amazing how much
stuff we've got lined up.
Well, thankful jt's come onboard to help and we got some
other folks.
Joel garcia, down out of texas,is going to start working with
us a little bit, along with afew thankful JT's come on board
to help, and we got some otherfolks Joel Garcia, down out of
Texas, gonna start working withus a little bit, along with a
few other folks.
So we're very excited aboutwhat the future is going to hold
.
As far as training goes, I'lltalk more about that at the end
of the session with us.
We'll give our schedule DJ.
(02:18):
How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I'm doing excellent.
It is beautiful weather here inAtlanta blue skies, skies,
puffy white clouds.
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Well, good, we've been experiencing some rain, but
it's coming all the way acrossthe country and we need it, so
that's all good, and it's goodto hear the weather's good for
you how are you?
Feeling.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I'm feeling good.
I'm feeling good, everything'scoming together.
I'm feeling good.
I'm feeling good, everything'scoming together.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
I'm doing well, and so the old toe doctor is still
moving.
That's good.
When I talk to people that, ifthey're familiar with the
podcast, one of the first thingsthey do is ask me how you doing
so.
You got a lot of peopleconcerned about you and care
about you, and and you need toknow that.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Wes.
I appreciate everybody whobends the knee and says dear God
, take care of the old man,because I've been really doing
well and I appreciate ourlisteners.
We have so many of them now20,000 listeners so I think it's
fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Oh yeah, it is fantastic, and it's y'all's hard
work that's making that happen,so we're super appreciative of
that.
We're looking forward to seeingyou at the Toe Show in
Chattanooga.
We're going to be live on theshow for or not on the show for
the museum for on Thursday night.
We'll talk about that a littlebit later.
We're looking forward to seeingyou there.
(03:43):
That's going to be exciting tobe together in person doing that
podcast.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yes, yeah, I'm really looking forward to Chattanooga.
There's so much going on.
There's always so much going on.
Speaking of Chattanooga, let'sjust say this for one second
They've gotten I'm complainingabout rain, but they've gotten
really, really bad.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah.
I mean, there's flooding rain,so we saw it on the news the
highways are flooded.
We did speak with some folksfrom out of Chattanooga area
that were there visiting,working on getting ready for
this show, and they said it'srough but it's not bad.
The museum at that point whenwe talked to them, was it
yesterday.
(04:21):
Yes, it was in good shape.
They said it had been a littlechallenging but things were
getting better.
While we're talking aboutclasses.
Me and Jeff Bauer, part of theCardinal Towing Legacy Group,
are going to do a seminar onThursday afternoon on the
(04:42):
subject of consolidation.
We're going to talk a littlebit about past, present and
future consolidation and what'sgoing on with it and how it's
affecting the towing industry.
So we're looking forward tothat.
Jeff's a very powerfulindividual that speaks very
wisely.
He's a very just.
Short time I've been around him.
I've got a lot of respect forhim, how he handles things, how
(05:03):
he looks at things.
I'm excited about the seminarwe'll be doing there at
Chattanooga on Thursday.
It's part of their seminarpackage program.
Then, of course, we got thetwo-day class Thursday and
Friday.
We're going to be in Wichita,Kansas, on September the 4th.
That's a Thursday evening.
That's a sponsored dinner andan evening electric and
(05:23):
alternative fuel vehicle class.
That's Saturday and Sunday.
That's September the 6th and7th.
We're doing one of the only letme back up the only light medium
class in the middle of thecountry.
We'll be at Elkhart, indiana,for a two-day class.
Tom's telling us there'shosting.
They always do a great job.
The following weekend, october3rd through the 5th, niagara
(05:44):
Falls, slash, buffalo, new York,a three-day extreme heavy duty
class.
Myself and JT will be teachinga class and we're supposed to
have a surprise instructor goingto stop by and help teach the
class.
The following week will be theChattanooga.
We'll be at October 9th and10th.
We'll be at the Chattanoogatwo-day heavy duty class.
That is a class you have toregister for and pay for.
(06:05):
We can after that, october 16th, on the Friday, we'll be in
Kansas City for a one-day lightduty.
On the Saturday, sunday that'sthe 17th and the 18th of October
we'll be in Kansas City with aheavy duty tow and recovery
class, lake Station.
The following weekend, october25th and 26th, two-day heavy
(06:25):
duty rotator class.
Then we'll be down inEnterprise, alabama, november
7th and Fridays, a one-day lightduty on a.
Saturday, sunday that's the 8thand the 9th.
It's a two-day heavy duty tonalrecovery class.
We'll be in Lake Charles,louisiana, connie's favorite
(06:45):
city.
We'll be down there on the 15thfor a one-day light duty.
It's November the 15th.
This is working in conjunctionwith the Tony and Victoria
Professional of Louisiana and onthe 16th we'll be in Lake
Charles, again with a one-dayheavy duty.
So that's a two-day class.
On Saturday a light duty.
On Sunday, one day heavy dutytwo day class on Saturday light
(07:06):
duty.
On Sunday heavy duty one dayclass for two days.
You can attend one or the other.
You don't have to attend both.
Naples, florida, december the6th and the 7th.
Two day light medium duty theonly other light medium duty
we're doing anywhere in thecountry at this point.
First weekend of DecemberDecember the 6th and the 7th in
Naples, florida duty the onlyother light and medium duty
(07:27):
we're doing anywhere in thecountry at this point.
First weekend of December isDecember 6th and the 7th in
Naples, florida.
And rest in hope Posting class.
Give me a call.
We've got some more dates wecan put on.
We've got a crew of instructorsthat are anxious to get out
there and share knowledge withy'all.
So hang around until after thebreak and we've got a great
interview for you.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
TRAA, the Injured Drivers Fund and legislation
that makes all of us safer arewhat makes this industry special
.
Ina Towing supports all of thisand more.
When there is a need, gayRochester is always one of the
first to come forward and askhow can I help?
The American Towing andRecovery Institute is honored to
(08:11):
have the support of the INATowing Network.
Together, we all make adifference.
Ina Towing Network simplifiedsolutions, superior Service.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the new.
Towing News Channel and we areso proud to be the number one
podcast in the towing recoveryindustry.
Remember, every week we do ourbest to bring you informative
episodes, and this is going tobe a great one.
(08:47):
We're available on Spotify,itunes, pandora, stitcher,
iheartmedia or wherever you getyour podcasts.
So, without further ado, let usbring us back to Wes and April
Wilburn.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks, dj.
I appreciate everything you doto make this podcast happen.
Thanks, dj, I appreciateeverything you do to make this
podcast happen.
Of course, we want to thank ourlisteners.
It's very humbling that we have20,000 subscribers nowadays.
I'm very thankful for that.
We hope we're providing goodcontent for people to listen to
once a week while they'rerunning calls et cetera.
But, as I told you in the firstsegment, we've got some great
(09:22):
guests.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
We've got the.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I don't know if you know, but I'm going to make the
official ambassador to thetrucking community.
Clifton and Joyce Paisleywhat's the town in Kentucky
you're from?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Tate City Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
And these folks.
This couple has visited all themajor trucking shows in the
last couple years and this yearin particular held the flag up
at the Mid-America Truck Show.
We'll let them talk a littlebit about that, but they're out
there representing the towingindustry in a positive light for
the trucking community andClifton and.
Joyce, I got to tell you you gotsome nerves because it's not a
(10:01):
great year to do that.
It seems like truck and drone,but we have to go on real fast,
which in my opinion, is a lackof information.
But we'll talk about that aswell.
Cliff and Joyce, we're happy tohave you on the podcast.
Can you both introduce yourselfand give us a little background
about how you got involved withthe industry?
Speaker 6 (10:18):
Yes sir, this is Cliff and Parsley with
Crossroads Towing.
We're out of Cade City,kentucky.
I started the business in 1999.
We started with a garage andone rollback.
We worked our way up torotators and big wreckers.
We still work on trucks but wedon't work on cars anymore.
We mainly do heavy towing.
(10:40):
We do have a couple ofrollbacks.
We do offer car towing, but ourspecialty is the heavy towing.
We do have a couple ofrollbacks.
We do offer car towing, but ourspecialty is the heavy towing.
We enjoy it.
Joyce is actually a registerednurse but she helps me with the
business and does a lot of theoffice stuff and does some
(11:00):
dispatching and everything else.
We enjoy doing what we do.
We got started with the truckshows last fall.
I bought a new 50-ton rotatorand we wanted to take and fly
the flag at some of the truckingshows.
So we didn't know what kind ofresponse we would get from
taking a rotator wrecker to atrucking show, but it has really
(11:22):
, really been positive.
Everybody loves the truck.
We've won several awards withit.
Record to a trucking show, butit has really, really been
positive.
Everybody loves the truck,we've won several awards with it
and we try to represent thetowing business in a positive
way.
There's a lot of negative stuffout there about the towing
because of a lot of the highbills from the big wrecks and
stuff.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So I know what said.
Well, look a moment ago, let'sget.
This is maybe not a great timeto be out there doing that with
the truck industry, because itseems like trucking and towing
is pitted, but maybe better timethan ever because there is that
pitting against each other.
Somebody out there with apositive message and a positive
(12:00):
image might be what it takes tomaybe kind of connect us.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Well, yes, and I appreciate that You're exactly
right, image might be what ittakes to maybe kind of connect
us.
Well, yes, and I appreciatethat You're exactly right.
You know, like I said, we'vehad very positive results from
doing it and we're winning a lotof trophies from the shows and
you know people are coming upand congratulating us and asking
us are we going to be at thenext show?
So you know, it feels good tobe able to represent the company
(12:30):
you know and the towingindustry in a positive way to
people.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
So Joyce, what's your thoughts on this?
Has it been fun or challenging?
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
A little bit about what I'm sorry.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
About your thoughts.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
I agree.
I mean, when we first startedgoing to the truck shows we
wasn't really sure how we wouldbe accepted, because there are
unfortunately other towingcompanies out there that have
kind of given us a bad nameabsolutely oh yeah.
So we have been trying our bestto bring the positivity back, to
let people know that we're notall bad, we're not, you know,
(13:10):
all out just to make that buck,so to say so.
That's our main purpose fortrying to get in, and I mean our
our biggest thing is with thebig trucks, the semis and the
trailers and stuff.
So that's kind of what we havebeen trying to do is get the
positive back, get us workingtogether as groups as we should
be.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
So yeah, Boy, that's a mouthful.
You're right about workingtogether and again.
I give you both credit, becauseit's a challenge here, because
there's a lot of hubbub, but Ialso agree with the thought that
maybe it's the best time tomake something good out of the
bad.
What's been your biggestsurprise going to these truck
shows so far?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Well, our biggest surprise was last fall at
Atlanta Motor Speedway.
We actually got to run arotator around the speedway
seven laps.
So to have a Rookator tow truckon a NASCAR track, you know,
and get to make laps around.
It was probably aonce-in-a-lifetime experience,
you know.
It was definitely a lot ofadrenaline there.
(14:10):
So, we had a lot of fun doingit, so you know.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
What was the first show you said you went to when
you got the new Rotator together?
Speaker 6 (14:22):
The first show was actually the Atlanta show.
When we got it together.
It was the first show we wentto.
Then we started out this yearat the Mid-America Truck Show in
Louisville.
I went to seven major truckshows so far this year.
We still have about four moreleft to go truck shows so far
this year and we still haveabout four more left to go.
So every one of them has beenvery, very good for us.
(14:44):
I'll never forget.
At Iowa 80, it come a bigrainstorm, so we were behind the
rotator in our tent during thisrainstorm and there was about a
foot of water running under us.
We had our feet on the coolersand sitting in the chairs trying
(15:08):
to hold the tent down.
That was a memorable moment.
Everybody was okay and itturned out great.
The last day of the show,saturday, was a very beautiful
day.
It's definitely been anexperience traveling around to
the truck shows and getting todo some of the things that we do
.
The firework shows are amazing.
When you have the flag up, youknow they'll set out the
fireworks and the fireworks willbe in the background with the
American flag, and you knowthat's a very beautiful scene
(15:32):
there.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, yes, I can imagine A couple things.
First of all, I'm basically anEast Coast traveler.
I've lived in Virginia andNorth Carolina most of my life,
and until you get out in theMidwest and experience one of
their storms, it's kind of awhole different thing, isn't it?
I mean, they it is definitely.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Yes, you have a lot more open flat ground out there,
so the sky can look veryintimidating because you get to
see it at a lot more open flatground out there.
So the sky can look veryintimidating because you get to
see it at a lot bigger scale.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
You know, I remember being in Kansas on a night of a
very powerful thunderstorm,lightning, and they called it
the Kansas fireworks.
And of course, I was young,just started traveling.
This was years ago and boy,there's nothing like that whole
prairie sky being lit up with alightning storm that is.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
That is true.
Let me also tell you we do.
We do our.
You know local christmasparades around christmas and you
know we'll throw out candy.
And even last year we had agentleman dressed up in a grinch
outfit that we had on the hookof one of our records going
through the Christmas parade andthat was a huge hit for the
kids.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, I bet Everybody was saying you've got the
Grinch costume you're taking himto jail.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
That was a memorable moment there for one of our
Christmas parades.
The kids loved seeing thetrucks.
They loved seeing the lights.
There's a lot of kids at truckshows also because they come out
to see the big trucks andeverything and we hand out.
We got these little toywreckers and we hand those out
to the kids at the shows and theparades.
(17:10):
Like I said, we just try topromote a good image for the
towing.
We also use our truck when wedon't have it at it shows and it
parades and it is a workingtruck and you know we just try
to work our schedule around towhere we can make these shows
and do it.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
How many trucks do?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
you have.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
We have five heavy wreckers and two rollbacks, a
landown and two landownsactually in road tractor and
service trucks.
So we do mainly heavy towingand roadside service stuff tires
, brake chambers, you know stufflike that.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So and you're located on a major interstate, I'm
guessing.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
We're halfway between Louisville and Nashville on
I-65.
We have six lanes of interstate, three each way through the
whole state, and we have a lotof truck traffic.
I don't have that figure rightnow in front of me, but there's
a few thousand trucks running upand down that road every day.
So, yeah, we get a lot ofbusiness off of the interstate.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And a lot of them go into one of the two big cities,
one direction or the other,probably right.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
Exactly, and it's a main corridor not just to get to
Louisville or Nashville, but ofcourse you pass through those
cities going to other places.
So you know it puts us in avery good position to catch a
lot of truck traffic.
So we do a lot of towing.
Probably 70% of our business istowing.
We do load shifts, we do winchouts and we also work wrecks.
(18:39):
So you know we do get to seesome wrecks.
You know sometimes that'spretty bad in cleanup you have
to have skid steers androll-offs and you know all that
stuff to work those wrecks.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You know that's one of the things.
Just talking with folks aboutthat kind of stuff at these
truck shows, you've got to bepositive.
A lot of times they don't thinkabout it.
You look through the headlinesfor predatory, telling news
stories.
You see headlines like $13,000for a six-mile town.
They don't, they don't.
(19:13):
They fail to share with youthat.
It was a load spread across thehighway.
There was a crew out there forfour hours cleaning it up.
This that and the other.
They just say six-mile tow for$13,000 or whatever.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Well, to justify that is you have to have all that
equipment on standby forsomething Sure, it's kind of
like an ambulance.
You know people say why does anambulance ride so high?
It's because those people arebeing paid, whether they're
working or not, just to be oncall and that piece of equipment
is also tied up for that.
So you have to do that in orderto, you know, keep that
(19:50):
equipment so when you need itit's available to you.
It's not like if you get arolled over tractor trailer at 1
o'clock Sunday morning, realearly, and you can't go out and
rent a skid steer, you can't goout and rent a trailer dolly,
you can't go out and rent rolloffs at that time of the morning
.
So you have a huge investmenttied up with this stuff sitting
(20:12):
around and a lot of times youonly use it for the big wrecks.
So it makes it more expensiveto use at that point in time
because you've got to buy it andkeep it.
You know for that.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Right, that's a great conversation for members of the
trucking community here whenthey're trying to work out in
their own mind how much a billis or how high it is.
This is some good stuff, but Ineed to ask you to take a quick
break.
Come back after the break.
I want to talk some more aboutthis.
I want to get into some of thedetails about the truck shows a
little bit.
So can you, Joyce, hang aroundfor a minute?
Speaker 6 (20:48):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
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(21:19):
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Speaker 1 (21:24):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the number one show
in the towing and recoveryindustry.
I want to thank all of you forremembering to like and review
and share everywhere we friends.
That's why we have 20 000listeners if you want to hear
another industry expert likeclifton and joyce.
(21:45):
By all means just dial thehotline number here at the
podcast center, 706-409-5603,and less than and April, and I
will do our very best to getthat going.
Industry expert on the podcast.
Hi, Wes and April, I'm turningback over to you.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Joyce, are you with us still?
Yes, yes, ma'am, a question Ihave to ask is from a girl who
met a tow truck operator andembraced that lifestyle.
How did you and Clifton meet?
And then part two of that isyou're a registered nurse.
How long have you been doingthat?
Speaker 7 (22:28):
Since 2009.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
You've been a nurse since 2009?
.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And how did you and Clifton meet and I and, uh, how
did you and clinton meet?
In mutual?
We met through my sister,actually.
Okay, how long have you guysbeen together?
Since 2006.
So you, that precedes theregistered nurse part.
Speaker 7 (22:53):
That kind of explains a lot.
Um, yeah, and actually I wasinvolved, involved a little from
then until 2021.
Kristen actually ended upgetting COVID and was put in the
hospital on a respirator.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Oh my.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
And it was a choice for me to either continue doing
the nursing or to run thebusiness and keep it going,
because I knew he was cominghome.
I mean, I'm not going to saythat there wasn't people that
had negative comments about that, but I knew he was coming home,
so I was going to keep hisdream alive because I could
always go back to mine.
So then that's when I started Irun it by myself while he was
(23:26):
in there, for, like, he was inthere for almost two months and
then we had home health andstuff for probably about six
months.
So I got really really involvedand kind of took it in as my
baby, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
I'm sure it gave you a whole new perspective as well.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Yes, exactly yeah, because when he got put in the
hospital, there were things thatI had no clue about and I had
to figure it out on my own.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Could you give us an example or one of those, without
getting too personal?
Speaker 7 (24:00):
yeah, no, no, I mean, oh, for payments for our
records, like I didn't know howmuch or where I and I only had,
like I was only messing withlike our personal account and
stuff, so I wasn't sure what wehad in the bank and I actually
didn't have the code to our bankaccount at that time.
Honestly, I mean, I didn't youknow.
He did all that, so it was alot of what I was having to
(24:23):
figure it out and it just sohappened I remembered that he
had told me that code like sometime ago and I was like, please,
you know, let this be it.
And it was so.
Yeah, so that was.
That was an example.
And the other thing was waslike upkeep on the trucks.
It just so happens that we havea mechanic that had been with
International for 30-plus yearsand retired.
(24:43):
He's a friend of ours.
That helped me out quite a bit.
I would have him to check thetrucks out before my guys had to
do long runs or anything.
So, yeah, it was a lot of biglearning experience.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Well, I can thank you for that, because a lot of
people would wouldn't be able tostep up for the partners like
that wouldn't be.
That they wouldn't want to isjust so much to take one yes,
especially the time the worldwas so crazy.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was determined.
I was like, you know, I'mkeeping this alive and he's
gonna yeah, he'll have it whenhe comes back home, and yep, so
I did and how much are youinvolved in that now?
Speaker 3 (25:22):
are you still?
Speaker 7 (25:22):
actively involved in that.
I'm very highly involved in it.
I do a lot of the legality, thepaperwork of the legal stuff,
dealing with the insurancecompanies, making sure the
invoices are playing right.
I do have a young lady thathelps me in the office I deal
with the IFTA, urc, irp,everything to keep us where we
(25:46):
need to be and, like I said, anyregs or anything like that.
I deal with insurance companies.
But September the 1st I'mactually going back for my nurse
practitioner, which I will havein like less than a year.
So, or a little over a year,I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
So that's our plan.
That's good.
You're still growing andlearning like that.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Then, clefton, I have to ask you, how does that
change?
I'm sure, when you came backand all everything was still
going and and moving forward,but then that then, at the same
time, she stayed involved afteryou were recovered how much?
Of a relief of that.
Was that for you?
Speaker 6 (26:24):
I am very does a lot.
I am very thankful becausebefore that I was doing probably
90% of everything and with herhelp with doing the paperwork
and the filings and dealing withinsurance companies, it
releases me to concentrate moreon new customers, the guys that
work for us and the trucks.
You know up keeping maintenanceof the trucks, so you know
(26:47):
that's a huge job right there initself because a tow truck does
take a beating, you know, withthe big loads behind it and the
miles that we travel and we goall over the country.
You know towing tractor trailerso we put a lot of miles on our
trucks doing that.
So it's a very, very strictmaintenance.
(27:08):
You know program that we havefor the trucks and we really
have good luck with with themrunning and and not bring me
problems, so we're veryfortunate.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
And then I have one more question to ask, and I
think Wes is going to take itfrom here and this will help him
segue into that what was yourfirst inspiration?
To go to a not a tow show, butto a truck show.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Well, I saw a lot of negative stuff on YouTube and
Facebook and different platformsand I just I was frustrated
with that because I thought,well, we're not all like that.
And when I would meet peopleout, the first thing would say
oh, we watched that repo show.
Do you all repo?
No, not every towing companyrepos.
(27:52):
So we wanted to get that outthere to the general public and
you know, you have the generalpublic going to truck shows more
than you do tow shows, so weget to interact with people.
And a lot of the times thefirst thing they would say was
well, we watched that repo show.
Do you all do that?
You know.
So we wanted to let them knowthat not all towing companies
(28:13):
and I don't have anythingnegative to say about that, but
you know it just they thinkthere's a lot of drama in the
towing and that reflectssometimes badly on us.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
So you know, you know , the toe shows you will meet in
the front lines of ourcustomers in many cases, at
least for the heavy duty sideyeah, and I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
I would encourage people to go you know that's in
the towing business to go to thetow shows and there's so much
information there for you andthere's so many classes that you
can take and you know to learnthe different things with the
towing and especially theFlorida Tow Show.
It's the biggest one out thereand you know it has a lot of
(28:59):
opportunity.
You have a lot of opportunityto go through the classes and
learn different things.
So I would highly encouragethat and I would also encourage
the Toe community to be part oftheir community.
You know parades, any type offestivals.
You know a lot of times we'rethe only ones there with the
American flag up.
(29:19):
We have a lot of people thatcome by and thank us for doing
that.
You can get more involved withyour community.
It's a big plus.
It lets people know who you are.
It also could be potentialcustomers out there.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
That's awesome advice .
Awesome.
A couple things Florida toeshow, probably the biggest, well
, definitely the biggest show asfar as how much landed occupies
etc.
And I guess it's still locatedon the show, the that of that.
Compare that to the minimumaMeta, the Bat Show there.
(30:00):
In what is it?
Louisville, because that's thebig one for the trucking
community, isn't it?
The Meta, meta America?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
It is, uh, the Meta America was.
The first time I was there wasthis year uh, for as a show, you
know, as a having a truck inthe show.
I'd been there several times,but it was definitely a learning
experience.
(30:26):
With the Mid-America Tow Showyou have a lot more trucks you
know at that show than you do atthe Florida Tow Show, but they
also.
It's kind of unique too becausethere's a lot of seminars there
at the Mid-America Tow Showthat you can take and a lot of
classes that you can do also.
So I think both of them aregreat shows and I believe that
you can come back with a goodexperience and a lot more
knowledge if you utilize that.
So it's just that there's a lotof advantages out here.
(30:51):
It's just knowing what to doand taking those.
So you know.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
All right.
So hang on a second.
I got a specific question justtrying to put this in
perspective.
Hang on a second.
I've got a specific questionJust trying to put this in
perspective.
For some of our listeners thatmay not have been to a trucking
show, I don't think I've everbeen to a trucking show.
As I think about it absolutely,I've always wanted to go to the
one there in America.
(31:16):
Real quick.
My direct question is size-wise, compared to the Florida show
the last couple years, what isthe comparison size-wise to that
to the MidAmerica truck show inKentucky?
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Well, the MidAmerica truck show is quite a bit larger
because you have so manyvendors in the building at the
mid-america truck show and itattracts a lot more people
because you have a lot morevendors.
The florida tow show is a hugetow show but it's it's not as
much room and it's not as much,I guess, vendors and and all
(31:55):
that stuff going on.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
I also think that the trucking industry has a bigger
footprint.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Sure they do, sure they do.
Yeah, but you know you have alot.
So when you compare the two isit twice as big, half again as
big.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
Yeah, it's quite a bit bigger than the Florida Tow
Show is.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
yes, sir, Just try to put some perspective on it.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry for interrupting you.
Speaker 6 (32:23):
That's okay.
As far as size-wise, I wouldsay that the Louisville Show is
probably three to four timesbigger than the Florida Tow Show
.
There are records at theLouisville Truck Show.
I wasn't the only rotator there, there was another rotator
(32:44):
there.
So we're seeing a trend rightnow with the big trucking shows
where there are more recordsshowing up, which you know.
I'm thankful for that becauseit helps represent the community
.
So you know, I think thatthat's probably.
There's some of the shows.
Like I just got back fromLebanon, virginia, the big truck
(33:04):
show down there and theyactually had a record class.
So there was like five rotatorsat that show.
So we're seeing a lot moreinvolvement with the record
community.
And you know we work with thetrucking community and we're
actually, you know, we'retrucking companies too.
(33:24):
I mean, you know we have tohave our DLT and our EFTA and
their you know numbers, our DLTnumbers and everything.
So it kind of goes hand in hand, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Oh, absolutely, and I think it's brilliant marketing
on your part.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
Yes, sir, yes.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
I really do.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
Yes, can I take another quick?
Speaker 2 (33:45):
break.
Can you hang around until afterthe break?
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
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Speaker 1 (35:04):
Welcome back listeners.
This is the last segment ofthis podcast with Clifton and
Joyce from Crossroads.
It has been a great one.
I want to thank all of you.
I can't thank you enough fortelling your fellow towers and
recovery experts about the newtowing channel, and I sure do
appreciate each and every one ofyou for telling your friends
(35:27):
about it.
Now, clifton and Joyce, we'regoing to go back to Weston April
, but I wanted to ask thequestion how big is the flag
that you're flying presently onthe 50 ton?
Speaker 6 (35:38):
The current flag that we have now is a 6x10.
So the bigger the better.
On that, a lot of people likeit, you know, and it also shows
up better at the truck show.
They have a lot of dronefootage at these truck shows so
they'll do aerial views of theshow.
So that really stands out whenyou have a flag that size.
You know, do aerial views ofthe show.
That really stands out.
When you have a flag that size,people can see it better.
(35:59):
I try to get the bigger one andget it up.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
What I was going to ask Wes.
Maybe some of our listeners maywant to chip in and help them
get a bigger flag, sure, yeah,hey, clifton and joyce, I got
news for you.
Wes has a way of getting someof his listeners to chip in for
(36:29):
any good cause, and I believethis is a good cause.
You're doing a great publicrelations for the towing and
recovery industry.
Well thank you and I reallyappreciate it and I know, as
Joyce is a nurse at all theseshows you've been to once in a
while.
She has to help out with peoplebeing overheated or not doing
(36:52):
their liquids enough.
You know, I know as a nurseshe's always got her mind open
for that stuff.
Speaker 7 (37:00):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
I do.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I knew it.
She does and she helps our guysa lot too, like when we're
working rollovers or somethingand it's really hot or really
cold.
She's very protective thereabout you know you all need to
sit down and take breaks or youneed to drink more water or more
Gatorade or you know stuff likethat, so she's really good,
she's really good at that, soexactly.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
All right, let's April.
You got it, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Thanks DJ so when you uh, the first one you went to
was Atlanta when you went putthe flag flag up, did anybody
say anything?
Did you just do it?
It was prearranged.
Speaker 6 (37:39):
How did that?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
go.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
We were asked by the people that was putting it on.
Bennett Trucking puts that showon and we were asked to come
and do it for them and we did itand we had a lot of positive.
You know I'd been doing theflag around at local festivals
and parades and stuff like thatfor a few years and they found
that out and they asked us if wewould come down and do it.
(38:02):
So we did it and we had a lotof people come by thanking us.
We had a lot of photos taken ofit, especially at night when
the boom light lights the flagup from behind it and it just
looks like it's a blowing therein the air, you know.
So it's pretty neat.
So you know they were veryreceptive of it and every truck
show that we've been to, um, Ihave had nobody just, you know,
(38:26):
not want it done.
Everybody wants it done.
So you know it's been veryreceptive and we just appreciate
having the opportunity to dothat and I have a lot of
veterans come by and thank mefor doing it.
They're saying that they don't,you know, see a lot of flags
flying anymore and you knowthey're thankful that we're
doing it and you know a lot ofthe kids enjoy it and they like
(38:49):
looking at it, and you know it'sjust, it makes us feel pretty
good when people appreciate it.
You know, absolutely I'm not.
I feel pretty good when peopleappreciate it.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
You know, yeah, absolutely, and I can only
imagine.
So you did it at Atlanta.
At Atlanta, that was a truckshow at the racetrack, is that
correct?
Speaker 6 (39:03):
Yes, sir, yes, it was a big show there.
They're actually having itagain this year.
And then at the end of the showwe all get to drive around and
make laps on the track.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So yeah, yeah, and I make laps on the track.
So, yeah, yeah.
Then I had that experience inIndianapolis one time and that
was very special to drive on theracetrack in a tow truck yes,
sir, not everybody gets to dothat.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
I'm sorry, go ahead not everybody gets to have that
experience, so that's a once ina lifetime experience.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
No doubt about it yes , yes, sir so after Atlanta,
where was the next show?
You went to truck show.
Speaker 6 (39:38):
Well, atlanta.
Then the next one would be atWildwood, florida.
We go to that down at Wildwoodat the 75 Chrome Shop.
They have an early show downthere in the spring and then you
go from there to they haveshows at Bristol, tennessee.
They have shows at the Iowa 80.
And then you have shows at, ofcourse, louisville, at Max would
(39:59):
be your first show and thenWildwood would be your second.
And then Rainey's actually hada first show this year at Ocala
Florida that we attended andthey aim to make that an annual
show.
So Rainey's is a big chrome andaftermarket truck parts sales
out of Ocala Florida.
So we got to attend that.
And we're actually going toJoplin this year at the chrome
(40:23):
shop out there they're having abig truck show.
Theirs is semi-annual show, sothey only have it every two
years and it's at Joplin,missouri.
So the next one we're going tosemi casual at Crossville and it
won't be this weekend but it'llbe the next weekend.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
So that it was.
Where's that at?
Speaker 6 (40:43):
Crossville Tennessee, semi casual show.
Speaker 2 (40:47):
Yes, sir, and then one of the next show after that
you attended.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
Joplin at Joplin, Missouri.
They'll have that show and thenit'll be Atlanta, so we plan on
attending three more shows thisyear.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
What about any tow truck shows?
Speaker 6 (41:05):
The tow truck shows.
Indiana show is, I think, the1st of September.
I think we're going to be ableto make that.
I don't believe we're going tohave any scheduling conflicts.
But the Ohio show will be atthe same time the joplin show is
, so we're already committed togoing to joplin, so we're going
to miss the ohio show.
That's the toe show in ohio, sowell that's a shame.
(41:27):
That's a good show, but it'salready committed yeah, yes, sir
understand maybe next year,because the show out in joplin's
only every other year, so youknow.
So we're looking forward tothat.
But I would encourage thepeople that are listening to get
out with the community, do yourlocal parades, do your local
festivals.
There's a lot of people thatcan't make all the truck shows
(41:49):
like I have this year.
I've been very blessed and veryfortunate that I have good
people like Joyce.
She stays back home a lot ofthe times and runs the operation
and my guys all are hardworkers and they do a good job.
So I'm very lucky that I can bein the position to attend these
shows.
But you don't have to go toevery show.
There should be everyone thathas a show pretty close to them
(42:13):
that they could attend, you know, and I highly encourage that.
I also encourage going to themthat they could attend.
You know, and I highlyencourage that.
I also encourage going to thetoe shows and going through the
classes and getting somecertifications, because you know
it, you learn a lot from thatand knowledge is, is is golden,
you know, in the toe business.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
so absolutely where are we believe that as well?
We did a school this year inFlorida.
We're going to do a schoolcoming up at Chattanooga Show,
are we?
Going to see you there inChattanooga.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
Yes, sir, We'll be in Chattanooga and some of my guys
are actually going to take yourclass, so we're going to get
that put up and we thank you foreverything that you've done for
the community and the towing.
And we thank you for everythingthat you've done for the
community and the towing and welove the idea of your podcast
here and anything that you cando to promote the towing
business in a good light, youknow, is great.
(43:04):
So we appreciate all of ourcustomers and we enjoy doing
what we do.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
We're right back at you for everything you're doing
good for the towing industry aswell.
Being out there representing theindustry on the front line,
with real people that can talkseriously with other people
about what's actually going on.
And taking the fight out ofthis off the newspapers and
things like that and talking topeople in the real world is
(43:33):
excellent.
I commend you all for doingthat.
Dj, I want to do more of a flag.
I think people ought to try tosupport you a little bit.
You know the truck don't run onfree and I know you're doing it
for enjoyment and doing it forother reasons as well.
The folks who you see heredon't hesitate to donate to the
cause.
And he's not asking, I'm askingand what's some contact
(43:55):
information, a phone number, away for people to contact you
that want to contact you?
Speaker 6 (44:00):
My direct number is 270-670-6718.
And anybody's free to call meat any time for questions or
anything that they need.
We'll be glad to help.
We make a lot of friends acrossthe country.
I pass out a lot of cards and Ialso get a lot of people's
cards.
So it's nice to know that youknow somebody in Texas, or you
(44:20):
know somebody in Ohio or Florida, or you know, hey, I know that
guy.
I was neighbors with him atthat show that I was at last
year, you know, and we got toknow each other.
So it's kind of like a littlefamily you know, and then those
people know people you know.
So if you're out and you needsomething, if you have any
problems, you know you've gotsomebody that you can call and
say, hey, do you know anybody inthis area that can help us, sir
(44:44):
, you know, and it's the sameway they can do us, the same way
you know.
So it's really just like afamily you, so we enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Yeah, no, it's awesome that you're part of the
family, part of the groupparticipating so well.
I was just thinking for amoment, thinking about the
fellow that started the TowingMuseum.
He started the group thatmorphed into the.
Speaker 4 (45:08):
Towing.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Museum.
He also started Tow TimesMagazine.
He also started Towing RecoveryAssociation of America,
professional RecreationOperators of Florida and about
half the towing association isout there.
Credit goes directly back to agentleman that discovered the
towing industry when his son gotinvolved.
His name was john hawkins thesecond.
His son was john hawkins thethird.
(45:30):
He's just still at millerindustries, had a full career
there.
There's John's father that wasan attorney that when John got
involved in the towing industryselling tow trucks, he took a
look at it and started helporganizing it.
And one of the beliefs thatJohn wanted around the country
getting different groups oftowers working together he
(45:51):
talked about with seven friendsyou can get anything
accomplished in this, this worldand I've proven that many times
with getting trucks.
You know we had the truck thatwas donated to the flood victim
in North Carolina, donated fromMissouri, and a group of seven
friends I think it was seventowers that actually did that
deal, one after the other one.
(46:11):
I'm totally hundred miles theirplace.
That's one at 150 miles to thenext place.
With a group of seven friends wegot that donated tow truck to
that tow that needed it in NorthCarolina and we all got to
remember this business is tough.
It can shoot you up at times.
You got seven friends that aregreat people, the people of
class like Clifton and Joyce,who make things happen, don't
(46:34):
just sit around and talk aboutit.
So it's been a privilege tohave you guys on the show today.
Looking forward to seeing youall and working with you in the
future and thank you foreverything you're doing.
Speaker 6 (46:43):
Well, let me say one more thing.
If you ever get a chance to goto Chattanooga, please stop by
the towing museum there inChattanooga.
They have a lot of uniquetowing pieces there and it's
it's really nice and you know,you can actually have a
membership with the museum thereand it helps out to keep that
(47:04):
open and keep it going.
So we encourage you to stop bythere, take a look at it and
become a member.
You know the towing museumthere, so pretty great.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
That's a great point where they believe is in the
museum as well.
As a matter of fact, if youcome to the event chat news of
this year on Thursday nightfront live from the museum floor
, we'll be doing a podcast livefrom the museum floor on
Thursday night of the show showweekend over the.
What is that?
October?
the well at night October thenight, october, the 9th October,
(47:35):
the 9th, the Thursday evening,be live on the museum floor with
this, and there's going to beother content creators there as
well.
Some of the YouTube stars inthe towing industry are going to
be there, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
So we invite anybody who's coming to the show.
If you're at that event, sitdown with us for a minute.
Introduce yourself.
Speaker 6 (47:58):
Well, you all keep up the good work and we sure do
appreciate what you're doing andand we look forward to seeing
you soon.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
So thank you, god bless god bless you, thank you.
you're on the train to success with April and Wes
Wilburn.
I'm DJ Harrington, the co-host,better known as the Toe Doctor.
We're all on our way to thetown of proper towing and
recovery, along with ourproducer, chuck Camp, in the
studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
You coulda had done this.
(00:28):
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests iTunes, pandora,stitcher, iheartmedia or the
number one podcast, or maybeAmazon or wherever you get your
(00:50):
podcasts.
Turn in on Wednesday and beturned on all week long.
If you are a state associationand want your announcements or
upcoming state association newsannouncements or upcoming state
association news, or maybe aco-show that's coming up, let us
(01:10):
know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the american dorm
recovery institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April Loomis.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Thank you, dj.
As always, I appreciate yourkind words.
I appreciate all the effort youput into this podcast, making
it happen, getting it started,et cetera.
Is that April here?
April?
How are you doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I'm doing really good Getting through some of this
rainy weather right now, which,you know, we need the rain, but
when it comes we complain aboutit.
But um, wrapping up the,wrapping up the summer and
looking forward to a really busyfall boy, we do have a busy
fall.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
As I look at the schedule, it's amazing how much
stuff we've got lined up.
Well, thankful jt's come onboard to help and we got some
other folks.
Joel garcia, down out of texas,is going to start working with
us a little bit, along with afew thankful JT's come on board
to help, and we got some otherfolks Joel Garcia, down out of
Texas, gonna start working withus a little bit, along with a
few other folks.
So we're very excited aboutwhat the future is going to hold
.
As far as training goes, I'lltalk more about that at the end
of the session with us.
We'll give our schedule DJ.
(02:18):
How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I'm doing excellent.
It is beautiful weather here inAtlanta blue skies, skies,
puffy white clouds.
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Well, good, we've been experiencing some rain, but
it's coming all the way acrossthe country and we need it, so
that's all good, and it's goodto hear the weather's good for
you how are you?
Feeling.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I'm feeling good.
I'm feeling good, everything'scoming together.
I'm feeling good.
I'm feeling good, everything'scoming together.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
I'm doing well, and so the old toe doctor is still
moving.
That's good.
When I talk to people that, ifthey're familiar with the
podcast, one of the first thingsthey do is ask me how you doing
so.
You got a lot of peopleconcerned about you and care
about you, and and you need toknow that.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Wes.
I appreciate everybody whobends the knee and says dear God
, take care of the old man,because I've been really doing
well and I appreciate ourlisteners.
We have so many of them now20,000 listeners so I think it's
fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Oh yeah, it is fantastic, and it's y'all's hard
work that's making that happen,so we're super appreciative of
that.
We're looking forward to seeingyou at the Toe Show in
Chattanooga.
We're going to be live on theshow for or not on the show for
the museum for on Thursday night.
We'll talk about that a littlebit later.
We're looking forward to seeingyou there.
(03:43):
That's going to be exciting tobe together in person doing that
podcast.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yes, yeah, I'm really looking forward to Chattanooga.
There's so much going on.
There's always so much going on.
Speaking of Chattanooga, let'sjust say this for one second
They've gotten I'm complainingabout rain, but they've gotten
really, really bad.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah.
I mean, there's flooding rain,so we saw it on the news the
highways are flooded.
We did speak with some folksfrom out of Chattanooga area
that were there visiting,working on getting ready for
this show, and they said it'srough but it's not bad.
The museum at that point whenwe talked to them, was it
yesterday.
(04:21):
Yes, it was in good shape.
They said it had been a littlechallenging but things were
getting better.
While we're talking aboutclasses.
Me and Jeff Bauer, part of theCardinal Towing Legacy Group,
are going to do a seminar onThursday afternoon on the
(04:42):
subject of consolidation.
We're going to talk a littlebit about past, present and
future consolidation and what'sgoing on with it and how it's
affecting the towing industry.
So we're looking forward tothat.
Jeff's a very powerfulindividual that speaks very
wisely.
He's a very just.
Short time I've been around him.
I've got a lot of respect forhim, how he handles things, how
(05:03):
he looks at things.
I'm excited about the seminarwe'll be doing there at
Chattanooga on Thursday.
It's part of their seminarpackage program.
Then, of course, we got thetwo-day class Thursday and
Friday.
We're going to be in Wichita,Kansas, on September the 4th.
That's a Thursday evening.
That's a sponsored dinner andan evening electric and
(05:23):
alternative fuel vehicle class.
That's Saturday and Sunday.
That's September the 6th and7th.
We're doing one of the only letme back up the only light medium
class in the middle of thecountry.
We'll be at Elkhart, indiana,for a two-day class.
Tom's telling us there'shosting.
They always do a great job.
The following weekend, october3rd through the 5th, niagara
(05:44):
Falls, slash, buffalo, new York,a three-day extreme heavy duty
class.
Myself and JT will be teachinga class and we're supposed to
have a surprise instructor goingto stop by and help teach the
class.
The following week will be theChattanooga.
We'll be at October 9th and10th.
We'll be at the Chattanoogatwo-day heavy duty class.
That is a class you have toregister for and pay for.
(06:05):
We can after that, october 16th, on the Friday, we'll be in
Kansas City for a one-day lightduty.
On the Saturday, sunday that'sthe 17th and the 18th of October
we'll be in Kansas City with aheavy duty tow and recovery
class, lake Station.
The following weekend, october25th and 26th, two-day heavy
(06:25):
duty rotator class.
Then we'll be down inEnterprise, alabama, november
7th and Fridays, a one-day lightduty on a.
Saturday, sunday that's the 8thand the 9th.
It's a two-day heavy duty tonalrecovery class.
We'll be in Lake Charles,louisiana, connie's favorite
(06:45):
city.
We'll be down there on the 15thfor a one-day light duty.
It's November the 15th.
This is working in conjunctionwith the Tony and Victoria
Professional of Louisiana and onthe 16th we'll be in Lake
Charles, again with a one-dayheavy duty.
So that's a two-day class.
On Saturday a light duty.
On Sunday, one day heavy dutytwo day class on Saturday light
(07:06):
duty.
On Sunday heavy duty one dayclass for two days.
You can attend one or the other.
You don't have to attend both.
Naples, florida, december the6th and the 7th.
Two day light medium duty theonly other light medium duty
we're doing anywhere in thecountry at this point.
First weekend of DecemberDecember the 6th and the 7th in
Naples, florida duty the onlyother light and medium duty
(07:27):
we're doing anywhere in thecountry at this point.
First weekend of December isDecember 6th and the 7th in
Naples, florida.
And rest in hope Posting class.
Give me a call.
We've got some more dates wecan put on.
We've got a crew of instructorsthat are anxious to get out
there and share knowledge withy'all.
So hang around until after thebreak and we've got a great
interview for you.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
TRAA, the Injured Drivers Fund and legislation
that makes all of us safer arewhat makes this industry special
.
Ina Towing supports all of thisand more.
When there is a need, gayRochester is always one of the
first to come forward and askhow can I help?
The American Towing andRecovery Institute is honored to
(08:11):
have the support of the INATowing Network.
Together, we all make adifference.
Ina Towing Network simplifiedsolutions, superior Service.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the new.
Towing News Channel and we areso proud to be the number one
podcast in the towing recoveryindustry.
Remember, every week we do ourbest to bring you informative
episodes, and this is going tobe a great one.
(08:47):
We're available on Spotify,itunes, pandora, stitcher,
iheartmedia or wherever you getyour podcasts.
So, without further ado, let usbring us back to Wes and April
Wilburn.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks, dj.
I appreciate everything you doto make this podcast happen.
Thanks, dj, I appreciateeverything you do to make this
podcast happen.
Of course, we want to thank ourlisteners.
It's very humbling that we have20,000 subscribers nowadays.
I'm very thankful for that.
We hope we're providing goodcontent for people to listen to
once a week while they'rerunning calls et cetera.
But, as I told you in the firstsegment, we've got some great
(09:22):
guests.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
We've got the.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I don't know if you know, but I'm going to make the
official ambassador to thetrucking community.
Clifton and Joyce Paisleywhat's the town in Kentucky
you're from?
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Tate City Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
And these folks.
This couple has visited all themajor trucking shows in the
last couple years and this yearin particular held the flag up
at the Mid-America Truck Show.
We'll let them talk a littlebit about that, but they're out
there representing the towingindustry in a positive light for
the trucking community andClifton and.
Joyce, I got to tell you you gotsome nerves because it's not a
(10:01):
great year to do that.
It seems like truck and drone,but we have to go on real fast,
which in my opinion, is a lackof information.
But we'll talk about that aswell.
Cliff and Joyce, we're happy tohave you on the podcast.
Can you both introduce yourselfand give us a little background
about how you got involved withthe industry?
Speaker 6 (10:18):
Yes sir, this is Cliff and Parsley with
Crossroads Towing.
We're out of Cade City,kentucky.
I started the business in 1999.
We started with a garage andone rollback.
We worked our way up torotators and big wreckers.
We still work on trucks but wedon't work on cars anymore.
We mainly do heavy towing.
(10:40):
We do have a couple ofrollbacks.
We do offer car towing, but ourspecialty is the heavy towing.
We do have a couple ofrollbacks.
We do offer car towing, but ourspecialty is the heavy towing.
We enjoy it.
Joyce is actually a registerednurse but she helps me with the
business and does a lot of theoffice stuff and does some
(11:00):
dispatching and everything else.
We enjoy doing what we do.
We got started with the truckshows last fall.
I bought a new 50-ton rotatorand we wanted to take and fly
the flag at some of the truckingshows.
So we didn't know what kind ofresponse we would get from
taking a rotator wrecker to atrucking show, but it has really
(11:22):
, really been positive.
Everybody loves the truck.
We've won several awards withit.
Record to a trucking show, butit has really, really been
positive.
Everybody loves the truck,we've won several awards with it
and we try to represent thetowing business in a positive
way.
There's a lot of negative stuffout there about the towing
because of a lot of the highbills from the big wrecks and
stuff.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So I know what said.
Well, look a moment ago, let'sget.
This is maybe not a great timeto be out there doing that with
the truck industry, because itseems like trucking and towing
is pitted, but maybe better timethan ever because there is that
pitting against each other.
Somebody out there with apositive message and a positive
(12:00):
image might be what it takes tomaybe kind of connect us.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Well, yes, and I appreciate that You're exactly
right, image might be what ittakes to maybe kind of connect
us.
Well, yes, and I appreciatethat You're exactly right.
You know, like I said, we'vehad very positive results from
doing it and we're winning a lotof trophies from the shows and
you know people are coming upand congratulating us and asking
us are we going to be at thenext show?
So you know, it feels good tobe able to represent the company
(12:30):
you know and the towingindustry in a positive way to
people.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
So Joyce, what's your thoughts on this?
Has it been fun or challenging?
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
A little bit about what I'm sorry.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
About your thoughts.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
I agree.
I mean, when we first startedgoing to the truck shows we
wasn't really sure how we wouldbe accepted, because there are
unfortunately other towingcompanies out there that have
kind of given us a bad nameabsolutely oh yeah.
So we have been trying our bestto bring the positivity back, to
let people know that we're notall bad, we're not, you know,
(13:10):
all out just to make that buck,so to say so.
That's our main purpose fortrying to get in, and I mean our
our biggest thing is with thebig trucks, the semis and the
trailers and stuff.
So that's kind of what we havebeen trying to do is get the
positive back, get us workingtogether as groups as we should
be.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
So yeah, Boy, that's a mouthful.
You're right about workingtogether and again.
I give you both credit, becauseit's a challenge here, because
there's a lot of hubbub, but Ialso agree with the thought that
maybe it's the best time tomake something good out of the
bad.
What's been your biggestsurprise going to these truck
shows so far?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Well, our biggest surprise was last fall at
Atlanta Motor Speedway.
We actually got to run arotator around the speedway
seven laps.
So to have a Rookator tow truckon a NASCAR track, you know,
and get to make laps around.
It was probably aonce-in-a-lifetime experience,
you know.
It was definitely a lot ofadrenaline there.
(14:10):
So, we had a lot of fun doingit, so you know.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
What was the first show you said you went to when
you got the new Rotator together?
Speaker 6 (14:22):
The first show was actually the Atlanta show.
When we got it together.
It was the first show we wentto.
Then we started out this yearat the Mid-America Truck Show in
Louisville.
I went to seven major truckshows so far this year.
We still have about four moreleft to go truck shows so far
this year and we still haveabout four more left to go.
So every one of them has beenvery, very good for us.
(14:44):
I'll never forget.
At Iowa 80, it come a bigrainstorm, so we were behind the
rotator in our tent during thisrainstorm and there was about a
foot of water running under us.
We had our feet on the coolersand sitting in the chairs trying
(15:08):
to hold the tent down.
That was a memorable moment.
Everybody was okay and itturned out great.
The last day of the show,saturday, was a very beautiful
day.
It's definitely been anexperience traveling around to
the truck shows and getting todo some of the things that we do
.
The firework shows are amazing.
When you have the flag up, youknow they'll set out the
fireworks and the fireworks willbe in the background with the
American flag, and you knowthat's a very beautiful scene
(15:32):
there.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, yes, I can imagine A couple things.
First of all, I'm basically anEast Coast traveler.
I've lived in Virginia andNorth Carolina most of my life,
and until you get out in theMidwest and experience one of
their storms, it's kind of awhole different thing, isn't it?
I mean, they it is definitely.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Yes, you have a lot more open flat ground out there,
so the sky can look veryintimidating because you get to
see it at a lot more open flatground out there.
So the sky can look veryintimidating because you get to
see it at a lot bigger scale.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
You know, I remember being in Kansas on a night of a
very powerful thunderstorm,lightning, and they called it
the Kansas fireworks.
And of course, I was young,just started traveling.
This was years ago and boy,there's nothing like that whole
prairie sky being lit up with alightning storm that is.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
That is true.
Let me also tell you we do.
We do our.
You know local christmasparades around christmas and you
know we'll throw out candy.
And even last year we had agentleman dressed up in a grinch
outfit that we had on the hookof one of our records going
through the Christmas parade andthat was a huge hit for the
kids.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, I bet Everybody was saying you've got the
Grinch costume you're taking himto jail.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
That was a memorable moment there for one of our
Christmas parades.
The kids loved seeing thetrucks.
They loved seeing the lights.
There's a lot of kids at truckshows also because they come out
to see the big trucks andeverything and we hand out.
We got these little toywreckers and we hand those out
to the kids at the shows and theparades.
(17:10):
Like I said, we just try topromote a good image for the
towing.
We also use our truck when wedon't have it at it shows and it
parades and it is a workingtruck and you know we just try
to work our schedule around towhere we can make these shows
and do it.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
How many trucks do?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
you have.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
We have five heavy wreckers and two rollbacks, a
landown and two landownsactually in road tractor and
service trucks.
So we do mainly heavy towingand roadside service stuff tires
, brake chambers, you know stufflike that.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So and you're located on a major interstate, I'm
guessing.
Speaker 6 (17:52):
We're halfway between Louisville and Nashville on
I-65.
We have six lanes of interstate, three each way through the
whole state, and we have a lotof truck traffic.
I don't have that figure rightnow in front of me, but there's
a few thousand trucks running upand down that road every day.
So, yeah, we get a lot ofbusiness off of the interstate.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And a lot of them go into one of the two big cities,
one direction or the other,probably right.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
Exactly, and it's a main corridor not just to get to
Louisville or Nashville, but ofcourse you pass through those
cities going to other places.
So you know it puts us in avery good position to catch a
lot of truck traffic.
So we do a lot of towing.
Probably 70% of our business istowing.
We do load shifts, we do winchouts and we also work wrecks.
(18:39):
So you know we do get to seesome wrecks.
You know sometimes that'spretty bad in cleanup you have
to have skid steers androll-offs and you know all that
stuff to work those wrecks.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You know that's one of the things.
Just talking with folks aboutthat kind of stuff at these
truck shows, you've got to bepositive.
A lot of times they don't thinkabout it.
You look through the headlinesfor predatory, telling news
stories.
You see headlines like $13,000for a six-mile town.
They don't, they don't.
(19:13):
They fail to share with youthat.
It was a load spread across thehighway.
There was a crew out there forfour hours cleaning it up.
This that and the other.
They just say six-mile tow for$13,000 or whatever.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Well, to justify that is you have to have all that
equipment on standby forsomething Sure, it's kind of
like an ambulance.
You know people say why does anambulance ride so high?
It's because those people arebeing paid, whether they're
working or not, just to be oncall and that piece of equipment
is also tied up for that.
So you have to do that in orderto, you know, keep that
(19:50):
equipment so when you need itit's available to you.
It's not like if you get arolled over tractor trailer at 1
o'clock Sunday morning, realearly, and you can't go out and
rent a skid steer, you can't goout and rent a trailer dolly,
you can't go out and rent rolloffs at that time of the morning
.
So you have a huge investmenttied up with this stuff sitting
(20:12):
around and a lot of times youonly use it for the big wrecks.
So it makes it more expensiveto use at that point in time
because you've got to buy it andkeep it.
You know for that.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Right, that's a great conversation for members of the
trucking community here whenthey're trying to work out in
their own mind how much a billis or how high it is.
This is some good stuff, but Ineed to ask you to take a quick
break.
Come back after the break.
I want to talk some more aboutthis.
I want to get into some of thedetails about the truck shows a
little bit.
So can you, Joyce, hang aroundfor a minute?
Speaker 6 (20:48):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
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(21:19):
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Speaker 1 (21:24):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the number one show
in the towing and recoveryindustry.
I want to thank all of you forremembering to like and review
and share everywhere we friends.
That's why we have 20 000listeners if you want to hear
another industry expert likeclifton and joyce.
(21:45):
By all means just dial thehotline number here at the
podcast center, 706-409-5603,and less than and April, and I
will do our very best to getthat going.
Industry expert on the podcast.
Hi, Wes and April, I'm turningback over to you.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Joyce, are you with us still?
Yes, yes, ma'am, a question Ihave to ask is from a girl who
met a tow truck operator andembraced that lifestyle.
How did you and Clifton meet?
And then part two of that isyou're a registered nurse.
How long have you been doingthat?
Speaker 7 (22:28):
Since 2009.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
You've been a nurse since 2009?
.
Speaker 7 (22:33):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And how did you and Clifton meet and I and, uh, how
did you and clinton meet?
In mutual?
We met through my sister,actually.
Okay, how long have you guysbeen together?
Since 2006.
So you, that precedes theregistered nurse part.
Speaker 7 (22:53):
That kind of explains a lot.
Um, yeah, and actually I wasinvolved, involved a little from
then until 2021.
Kristen actually ended upgetting COVID and was put in the
hospital on a respirator.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Oh my.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
And it was a choice for me to either continue doing
the nursing or to run thebusiness and keep it going,
because I knew he was cominghome.
I mean, I'm not going to saythat there wasn't people that
had negative comments about that, but I knew he was coming home,
so I was going to keep hisdream alive because I could
always go back to mine.
So then that's when I started Irun it by myself while he was
(23:26):
in there, for, like, he was inthere for almost two months and
then we had home health andstuff for probably about six
months.
So I got really really involvedand kind of took it in as my
baby, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
I'm sure it gave you a whole new perspective as well.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
Yes, exactly yeah, because when he got put in the
hospital, there were things thatI had no clue about and I had
to figure it out on my own.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Could you give us an example or one of those, without
getting too personal?
Speaker 7 (24:00):
yeah, no, no, I mean, oh, for payments for our
records, like I didn't know howmuch or where I and I only had,
like I was only messing withlike our personal account and
stuff, so I wasn't sure what wehad in the bank and I actually
didn't have the code to our bankaccount at that time.
Honestly, I mean, I didn't youknow.
He did all that, so it was alot of what I was having to
(24:23):
figure it out and it just sohappened I remembered that he
had told me that code like sometime ago and I was like, please,
you know, let this be it.
And it was so.
Yeah, so that was.
That was an example.
And the other thing was waslike upkeep on the trucks.
It just so happens that we havea mechanic that had been with
International for 30-plus yearsand retired.
(24:43):
He's a friend of ours.
That helped me out quite a bit.
I would have him to check thetrucks out before my guys had to
do long runs or anything.
So, yeah, it was a lot of biglearning experience.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Well, I can thank you for that, because a lot of
people would wouldn't be able tostep up for the partners like
that wouldn't be.
That they wouldn't want to isjust so much to take one yes,
especially the time the worldwas so crazy.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was determined.
I was like, you know, I'mkeeping this alive and he's
gonna yeah, he'll have it whenhe comes back home, and yep, so
I did and how much are youinvolved in that now?
Speaker 3 (25:22):
are you still?
Speaker 7 (25:22):
actively involved in that.
I'm very highly involved in it.
I do a lot of the legality, thepaperwork of the legal stuff,
dealing with the insurancecompanies, making sure the
invoices are playing right.
I do have a young lady thathelps me in the office I deal
with the IFTA, urc, irp,everything to keep us where we
(25:46):
need to be and, like I said, anyregs or anything like that.
I deal with insurance companies.
But September the 1st I'mactually going back for my nurse
practitioner, which I will havein like less than a year.
So, or a little over a year,I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
So that's our plan.
That's good.
You're still growing andlearning like that.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Then, clefton, I have to ask you, how does that
change?
I'm sure, when you came backand all everything was still
going and and moving forward,but then that then, at the same
time, she stayed involved afteryou were recovered how much?
Of a relief of that.
Was that for you?
Speaker 6 (26:24):
I am very does a lot.
I am very thankful becausebefore that I was doing probably
90% of everything and with herhelp with doing the paperwork
and the filings and dealing withinsurance companies, it
releases me to concentrate moreon new customers, the guys that
work for us and the trucks.
You know up keeping maintenanceof the trucks, so you know
(26:47):
that's a huge job right there initself because a tow truck does
take a beating, you know, withthe big loads behind it and the
miles that we travel and we goall over the country.
You know towing tractor trailerso we put a lot of miles on our
trucks doing that.
So it's a very, very strictmaintenance.
(27:08):
You know program that we havefor the trucks and we really
have good luck with with themrunning and and not bring me
problems, so we're veryfortunate.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
And then I have one more question to ask, and I
think Wes is going to take itfrom here and this will help him
segue into that what was yourfirst inspiration?
To go to a not a tow show, butto a truck show.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Well, I saw a lot of negative stuff on YouTube and
Facebook and different platformsand I just I was frustrated
with that because I thought,well, we're not all like that.
And when I would meet peopleout, the first thing would say
oh, we watched that repo show.
Do you all repo?
No, not every towing companyrepos.
(27:52):
So we wanted to get that outthere to the general public and
you know, you have the generalpublic going to truck shows more
than you do tow shows, so weget to interact with people.
And a lot of the times thefirst thing they would say was
well, we watched that repo show.
Do you all do that?
You know.
So we wanted to let them knowthat not all towing companies
(28:13):
and I don't have anythingnegative to say about that, but
you know it just they thinkthere's a lot of drama in the
towing and that reflectssometimes badly on us.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
So you know, you know , the toe shows you will meet in
the front lines of ourcustomers in many cases, at
least for the heavy duty sideyeah, and I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 6 (28:38):
I would encourage people to go you know that's in
the towing business to go to thetow shows and there's so much
information there for you andthere's so many classes that you
can take and you know to learnthe different things with the
towing and especially theFlorida Tow Show.
It's the biggest one out thereand you know it has a lot of
(28:59):
opportunity.
You have a lot of opportunityto go through the classes and
learn different things.
So I would highly encouragethat and I would also encourage
the Toe community to be part oftheir community.
You know parades, any type offestivals.
You know a lot of times we'rethe only ones there with the
American flag up.
(29:19):
We have a lot of people thatcome by and thank us for doing
that.
You can get more involved withyour community.
It's a big plus.
It lets people know who you are.
It also could be potentialcustomers out there.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
That's awesome advice .
Awesome.
A couple things Florida toeshow, probably the biggest, well
, definitely the biggest show asfar as how much landed occupies
etc.
And I guess it's still locatedon the show, the that of that.
Compare that to the minimumaMeta, the Bat Show there.
(30:00):
In what is it?
Louisville, because that's thebig one for the trucking
community, isn't it?
The Meta, meta America?
Speaker 6 (30:06):
It is, uh, the Meta America was.
The first time I was there wasthis year uh, for as a show, you
know, as a having a truck inthe show.
I'd been there several times,but it was definitely a learning
experience.
(30:26):
With the Mid-America Tow Showyou have a lot more trucks you
know at that show than you do atthe Florida Tow Show, but they
also.
It's kind of unique too becausethere's a lot of seminars there
at the Mid-America Tow Showthat you can take and a lot of
classes that you can do also.
So I think both of them aregreat shows and I believe that
you can come back with a goodexperience and a lot more
knowledge if you utilize that.
So it's just that there's a lotof advantages out here.
(30:51):
It's just knowing what to doand taking those.
So you know.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
All right.
So hang on a second.
I got a specific question justtrying to put this in
perspective.
Hang on a second.
I've got a specific questionJust trying to put this in
perspective.
For some of our listeners thatmay not have been to a trucking
show, I don't think I've everbeen to a trucking show.
As I think about it absolutely,I've always wanted to go to the
one there in America.
(31:16):
Real quick.
My direct question is size-wise, compared to the Florida show
the last couple years, what isthe comparison size-wise to that
to the MidAmerica truck show inKentucky?
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Well, the MidAmerica truck show is quite a bit larger
because you have so manyvendors in the building at the
mid-america truck show and itattracts a lot more people
because you have a lot morevendors.
The florida tow show is a hugetow show but it's it's not as
much room and it's not as much,I guess, vendors and and all
(31:55):
that stuff going on.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
I also think that the trucking industry has a bigger
footprint.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Sure they do, sure they do.
Yeah, but you know you have alot.
So when you compare the two isit twice as big, half again as
big.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
Yeah, it's quite a bit bigger than the Florida Tow
Show is.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
yes, sir, Just try to put some perspective on it.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry for interrupting you.
Speaker 6 (32:23):
That's okay.
As far as size-wise, I wouldsay that the Louisville Show is
probably three to four timesbigger than the Florida Tow Show
.
There are records at theLouisville Truck Show.
I wasn't the only rotator there, there was another rotator
(32:44):
there.
So we're seeing a trend rightnow with the big trucking shows
where there are more recordsshowing up, which you know.
I'm thankful for that becauseit helps represent the community
.
So you know, I think thatthat's probably.
There's some of the shows.
Like I just got back fromLebanon, virginia, the big truck
(33:04):
show down there and theyactually had a record class.
So there was like five rotatorsat that show.
So we're seeing a lot moreinvolvement with the record
community.
And you know we work with thetrucking community and we're
actually, you know, we'retrucking companies too.
(33:24):
I mean, you know we have tohave our DLT and our EFTA and
their you know numbers, our DLTnumbers and everything.
So it kind of goes hand in hand, you know.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Oh, absolutely, and I think it's brilliant marketing
on your part.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
Yes, sir, yes.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
I really do.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
Yes, can I take another quick?
Speaker 2 (33:45):
break.
Can you hang around until afterthe break?
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
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Speaker 1 (35:04):
Welcome back listeners.
This is the last segment ofthis podcast with Clifton and
Joyce from Crossroads.
It has been a great one.
I want to thank all of you.
I can't thank you enough fortelling your fellow towers and
recovery experts about the newtowing channel, and I sure do
appreciate each and every one ofyou for telling your friends
(35:27):
about it.
Now, clifton and Joyce, we'regoing to go back to Weston April
, but I wanted to ask thequestion how big is the flag
that you're flying presently onthe 50 ton?
Speaker 6 (35:38):
The current flag that we have now is a 6x10.
So the bigger the better.
On that, a lot of people likeit, you know, and it also shows
up better at the truck show.
They have a lot of dronefootage at these truck shows so
they'll do aerial views of theshow.
So that really stands out whenyou have a flag that size.
You know, do aerial views ofthe show.
That really stands out.
When you have a flag that size,people can see it better.
(35:59):
I try to get the bigger one andget it up.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
What I was going to ask Wes.
Maybe some of our listeners maywant to chip in and help them
get a bigger flag, sure, yeah,hey, clifton and joyce, I got
news for you.
Wes has a way of getting someof his listeners to chip in for
(36:29):
any good cause, and I believethis is a good cause.
You're doing a great publicrelations for the towing and
recovery industry.
Well thank you and I reallyappreciate it and I know, as
Joyce is a nurse at all theseshows you've been to once in a
while.
She has to help out with peoplebeing overheated or not doing
(36:52):
their liquids enough.
You know, I know as a nurseshe's always got her mind open
for that stuff.
Speaker 7 (37:00):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
I do.
Speaker 6 (37:02):
I knew it.
She does and she helps our guysa lot too, like when we're
working rollovers or somethingand it's really hot or really
cold.
She's very protective thereabout you know you all need to
sit down and take breaks or youneed to drink more water or more
Gatorade or you know stuff likethat, so she's really good,
she's really good at that, soexactly.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
All right, let's April.
You got it, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Thanks DJ so when you uh, the first one you went to
was Atlanta when you went putthe flag flag up, did anybody
say anything?
Did you just do it?
It was prearranged.
Speaker 6 (37:39):
How did that?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
go.
Speaker 6 (37:40):
We were asked by the people that was putting it on.
Bennett Trucking puts that showon and we were asked to come
and do it for them and we did itand we had a lot of positive.
You know I'd been doing theflag around at local festivals
and parades and stuff like thatfor a few years and they found
that out and they asked us if wewould come down and do it.
(38:02):
So we did it and we had a lotof people come by thanking us.
We had a lot of photos taken ofit, especially at night when
the boom light lights the flagup from behind it and it just
looks like it's a blowing therein the air, you know.
So it's pretty neat.
So you know they were veryreceptive of it and every truck
show that we've been to, um, Ihave had nobody just, you know,
(38:26):
not want it done.
Everybody wants it done.
So you know it's been veryreceptive and we just appreciate
having the opportunity to dothat and I have a lot of
veterans come by and thank mefor doing it.
They're saying that they don't,you know, see a lot of flags
flying anymore and you knowthey're thankful that we're
doing it and you know a lot ofthe kids enjoy it and they like
(38:49):
looking at it, and you know it'sjust, it makes us feel pretty
good when people appreciate it.
You know, absolutely I'm not.
I feel pretty good when peopleappreciate it.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
You know, yeah, absolutely, and I can only
imagine.
So you did it at Atlanta.
At Atlanta, that was a truckshow at the racetrack, is that
correct?
Speaker 6 (39:03):
Yes, sir, yes, it was a big show there.
They're actually having itagain this year.
And then at the end of the showwe all get to drive around and
make laps on the track.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So yeah, yeah, and I make laps on the track.
So, yeah, yeah.
Then I had that experience inIndianapolis one time and that
was very special to drive on theracetrack in a tow truck yes,
sir, not everybody gets to dothat.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
I'm sorry, go ahead not everybody gets to have that
experience, so that's a once ina lifetime experience.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
No doubt about it yes , yes, sir so after Atlanta,
where was the next show?
You went to truck show.
Speaker 6 (39:38):
Well, atlanta.
Then the next one would be atWildwood, florida.
We go to that down at Wildwoodat the 75 Chrome Shop.
They have an early show downthere in the spring and then you
go from there to they haveshows at Bristol, tennessee.
They have shows at the Iowa 80.
And then you have shows at, ofcourse, louisville, at Max would
(39:59):
be your first show and thenWildwood would be your second.
And then Rainey's actually hada first show this year at Ocala
Florida that we attended andthey aim to make that an annual
show.
So Rainey's is a big chrome andaftermarket truck parts sales
out of Ocala Florida.
So we got to attend that.
And we're actually going toJoplin this year at the chrome
(40:23):
shop out there they're having abig truck show.
Theirs is semi-annual show, sothey only have it every two
years and it's at Joplin,missouri.
So the next one we're going tosemi casual at Crossville and it
won't be this weekend but it'llbe the next weekend.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
So that it was.
Where's that at?
Speaker 6 (40:43):
Crossville Tennessee, semi casual show.
Speaker 2 (40:47):
Yes, sir, and then one of the next show after that
you attended.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
Joplin at Joplin, Missouri.
They'll have that show and thenit'll be Atlanta, so we plan on
attending three more shows thisyear.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
What about any tow truck shows?
Speaker 6 (41:05):
The tow truck shows.
Indiana show is, I think, the1st of September.
I think we're going to be ableto make that.
I don't believe we're going tohave any scheduling conflicts.
But the Ohio show will be atthe same time the joplin show is
, so we're already committed togoing to joplin, so we're going
to miss the ohio show.
That's the toe show in ohio, sowell that's a shame.
(41:27):
That's a good show, but it'salready committed yeah, yes, sir
understand maybe next year,because the show out in joplin's
only every other year, so youknow.
So we're looking forward tothat.
But I would encourage thepeople that are listening to get
out with the community, do yourlocal parades, do your local
festivals.
There's a lot of people thatcan't make all the truck shows
(41:49):
like I have this year.
I've been very blessed and veryfortunate that I have good
people like Joyce.
She stays back home a lot ofthe times and runs the operation
and my guys all are hardworkers and they do a good job.
So I'm very lucky that I can bein the position to attend these
shows.
But you don't have to go toevery show.
There should be everyone thathas a show pretty close to them
(42:13):
that they could attend, you know, and I highly encourage that.
I also encourage going to themthat they could attend.
You know, and I highlyencourage that.
I also encourage going to thetoe shows and going through the
classes and getting somecertifications, because you know
it, you learn a lot from thatand knowledge is, is is golden,
you know, in the toe business.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
so absolutely where are we believe that as well?
We did a school this year inFlorida.
We're going to do a schoolcoming up at Chattanooga Show,
are we?
Going to see you there inChattanooga.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
Yes, sir, We'll be in Chattanooga and some of my guys
are actually going to take yourclass, so we're going to get
that put up and we thank you foreverything that you've done for
the community and the towing.
And we thank you for everythingthat you've done for the
community and the towing and welove the idea of your podcast
here and anything that you cando to promote the towing
business in a good light, youknow, is great.
(43:04):
So we appreciate all of ourcustomers and we enjoy doing
what we do.
Speaker 2 (43:12):
We're right back at you for everything you're doing
good for the towing industry aswell.
Being out there representing theindustry on the front line,
with real people that can talkseriously with other people
about what's actually going on.
And taking the fight out ofthis off the newspapers and
things like that and talking topeople in the real world is
(43:33):
excellent.
I commend you all for doingthat.
Dj, I want to do more of a flag.
I think people ought to try tosupport you a little bit.
You know the truck don't run onfree and I know you're doing it
for enjoyment and doing it forother reasons as well.
The folks who you see heredon't hesitate to donate to the
cause.
And he's not asking, I'm askingand what's some contact
(43:55):
information, a phone number, away for people to contact you
that want to contact you?
Speaker 6 (44:00):
My direct number is 270-670-6718.
And anybody's free to call meat any time for questions or
anything that they need.
We'll be glad to help.
We make a lot of friends acrossthe country.
I pass out a lot of cards and Ialso get a lot of people's
cards.
So it's nice to know that youknow somebody in Texas, or you
(44:20):
know somebody in Ohio or Florida, or you know, hey, I know that
guy.
I was neighbors with him atthat show that I was at last
year, you know, and we got toknow each other.
So it's kind of like a littlefamily you know, and then those
people know people you know.
So if you're out and you needsomething, if you have any
problems, you know you've gotsomebody that you can call and
say, hey, do you know anybody inthis area that can help us, sir
(44:44):
, you know, and it's the sameway they can do us, the same way
you know.
So it's really just like afamily you, so we enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Yeah, no, it's awesome that you're part of the
family, part of the groupparticipating so well.
I was just thinking for amoment, thinking about the
fellow that started the TowingMuseum.
He started the group thatmorphed into the.
Speaker 4 (45:08):
Towing.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
Museum.
He also started Tow TimesMagazine.
He also started Towing RecoveryAssociation of America,
professional RecreationOperators of Florida and about
half the towing association isout there.
Credit goes directly back to agentleman that discovered the
towing industry when his son gotinvolved.
His name was john hawkins thesecond.
His son was john hawkins thethird.
(45:30):
He's just still at millerindustries, had a full career
there.
There's John's father that wasan attorney that when John got
involved in the towing industryselling tow trucks, he took a
look at it and started helporganizing it.
And one of the beliefs thatJohn wanted around the country
getting different groups oftowers working together he
(45:51):
talked about with seven friendsyou can get anything
accomplished in this, this worldand I've proven that many times
with getting trucks.
You know we had the truck thatwas donated to the flood victim
in North Carolina, donated fromMissouri, and a group of seven
friends I think it was seventowers that actually did that
deal, one after the other one.
(46:11):
I'm totally hundred miles theirplace.
That's one at 150 miles to thenext place.
With a group of seven friends wegot that donated tow truck to
that tow that needed it in NorthCarolina and we all got to
remember this business is tough.
It can shoot you up at times.
You got seven friends that aregreat people, the people of
class like Clifton and Joyce,who make things happen, don't
(46:34):
just sit around and talk aboutit.
So it's been a privilege tohave you guys on the show today.
Looking forward to seeing youall and working with you in the
future and thank you foreverything you're doing.
Speaker 6 (46:43):
Well, let me say one more thing.
If you ever get a chance to goto Chattanooga, please stop by
the towing museum there inChattanooga.
They have a lot of uniquetowing pieces there and it's
it's really nice and you know,you can actually have a
membership with the museum thereand it helps out to keep that
(47:04):
open and keep it going.
So we encourage you to stop bythere, take a look at it and
become a member.
You know the towing museumthere, so pretty great.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
That's a great point where they believe is in the
museum as well.
As a matter of fact, if youcome to the event chat news of
this year on Thursday nightfront live from the museum floor
, we'll be doing a podcast livefrom the museum floor on
Thursday night of the show showweekend over the.
What is that?
October?
the well at night October thenight, october, the 9th October,
(47:35):
the 9th, the Thursday evening,be live on the museum floor with
this, and there's going to beother content creators there as
well.
Some of the YouTube stars inthe towing industry are going to
be there, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
So we invite anybody who's coming to the show.
If you're at that event, sitdown with us for a minute.
Introduce yourself.
Speaker 6 (47:58):
Well, you all keep up the good work and we sure do
appreciate what you're doing andand we look forward to seeing
you soon.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
So thank you, god bless god bless you, thank you.
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