December 8, 2024 • 34 mins
Discover the unsung heroes of the towing and recovery industry with us, as we shine a light on their relentless dedication to safety, education, and community service. Join DJ Harrington and towing veteran Wes Wilburn, boasting over four decades of experience, as we recount heartwarming Thanksgiving tales and salute those who keep our roads safe, even in the harshest conditions like the recent snowfall in New York and Pennsylvania. From navigating the treacherous winter weather to ensuring rest and safety for workers, our conversation underscores the crucial yet often overlooked contributions these professionals make, especially during emergencies.
Our journey continues with a focus on the inspiring initiatives within the industry aimed at supporting veterans and bolstering community development. We delve into the collaborative efforts such as those by Ina Towing and the American Towing and Recovery Institute, which are transforming old hotels into homes for veterans and providing essential transportation solutions. The episode also grapples with pressing regulatory challenges and safety issues, examining the complex landscape of private property towing and emphasizing the need for self-defense training in encounters like the one in Phoenix. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the industry's unwavering commitment to service, advocacy, and safety.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery
Institute podcast.
Remember this is your podcast topromote safety, education,
positive public relations andnetworking within the
professional and business-mindedtowing and recovery industry.
I'm your co-host, dj Harrington, better known as the Tow Doctor
(00:27):
, and my other host is WesWilburn, over 40-year towing
industry veteran, the founder ofAmerican Towing Recovery
Institute of Fayetteville, northCarolina.
He has produced and conductedtraining and certification
programs for leading towingcompanies, equipment
(00:48):
distributors, towingassociations, dot, fire
departments, rescue, as well asmilitary installations across
the United States.
Wes has been published over 100times in major towing
publications published over 100times in major towing
(01:08):
publications.
Wes has developed many courses,including the most recent
awareness-level course for allresponders that specialize in
electric vehicles as well ashybrid, natural gas and hydrogen
vehicles.
Wes has provided insight as themain speaker for over 30 years
at more than 900 trainingclasses and has been recognized
(01:31):
as one of America's greatesttowing trainers.
He is well known for hisstraightforward but
down-to-earth teaching style.
No-transcript.
(02:08):
Without further ado, here's mydear friend and a great guy for
our industry, wes Wilber.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, DJ, as always, you're too kind with your
introduction.
I certainly appreciate it.
Excited to be back here Justgot done with Thanksgiving and
everything.
How was your Thanksgiving inyour household?
It was fantastic the be backhere Just got done with
Thanksgiving and everything.
How was your Thanksgiving inyour household?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
It was fantastic.
The grandchildren were here, wehad a great, gigantic turkey.
It was a good, good time.
Good time by all.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Thanksgiving and we're still having turkey.
I think today's our last day ofturkey.
I think we're pretty well tiredof it.
It was a really goodThanksgiving.
We just went out to actuallyeat Thanksgiving Day and then I
made a big dinner for two people.
That's why we're still eatingturkey.
It was very good.
(03:03):
I haven't had it cooked for afew days.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
That's another good thing now, wes can I ask you
guys, does she cook sweet potatocasserole?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
no, no, we didn't have it.
She didn't cook any.
With our meal, which, again,we'll cover just two, and you do
the potatoes and the stuffingand some vegetables of some sort
, yeah, but no, to answer yourquestion directly.
When you come for just two andyou do the potatoes and stuff
and then some, you know,vegetables of some sort, yeah,
gets to be a lot, but no, toanswer your question directly.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But I did make banana cream pies, not the same thing.
No, you know, not bad.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Not bad, not bad.
Well, I am now a believer onsweet potato casserole, which I
was not before, but I am now.
Pretty good, isn't it?
Oh, which I was not before, butI am now Pretty good, isn't it?
Oh, it was delicious and I hopeall our listeners had a great
Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, hopefully they did.
Hopefully they got to enjoy themeal with their family, not get
called out.
But a lot of people don'trealize that outside of the
industry is a tremendous servicethe average telling company
gives to their community bykeeping the doors open 24-7,
respond to emergency calls andwhatnot.
A lot of people don't thinkabout that.
I don't believe you, jay.
(04:11):
Along with all the other peopleand services the fire, the
police, of course, but hospitals, electric companies A lot of
people keep things running,don't they?
They sure do.
A lot of people keep thingsrunning, don't they?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
They sure do, and I did not understand this until a
few years ago.
I spent Thanksgiving with KevinFox down at Alligator Towing in
Fort Myers, florida, and hesays come on down, they're doing
one of these turkey roasts.
So I go down there, he has menout on trucks.
So I go down there, he has menout on trucks and all of a
(04:45):
sudden A three car accident.
Everybody gets asked to get upand we're all in cars, trucks
heading out to the accident.
And we came back later thatnight and finished the meal.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, that's happened more than once.
And a lot of folks don'trealize it.
Again, I believe the towingindustry does not get the
recognition it deserves from itscommunity and whatnot.
The deeper we're getting intodoing the news.
There's an example of an articletoday that we're going to talk
about in the second portion, Iguess maybe the third, whatever
we get to it.
But the general public justreally doesn't understand the
(05:22):
industry at all and makesassumptions et cetera, where the
general public just reallydoesn't understand the industry
at all and makes assumptions etcetera.
So it's a shame but hopefullyeverybody had a safe and good
Thanksgiving, got to have a mealat some point.
Hopefully it wasn't interrupted.
But we know that the scenariohas played out time and time
again.
Talking about being interrupted, you might be interrupted.
(05:44):
Boy, they got a lot of snowthere in western New York and
Pennsylvania again.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You got the board on?
Yeah, it's been the second timethat I've seen reports on
social media where thePennsylvania State Police were
requesting additional towingservices in parts of the state.
A week ago, during the?
Uh beginning of the busy travelweek, I guess the weekend of
the baltimore show the?
Um had a lot of snow in thatregion and, um and uh, the state
(06:16):
police called out for help thattime and then a week later they
called out for help in anotherregion that's with so much snow
um, I don't know that.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I've heard of that happening before I know.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
a lot of tellers are working around the clock up
there and I hope they're takinga little bit of time for some
rest and nourishment, because itgets dangerous real quick,
especially they're workingwhiteout conditions with five
and six foot of snow.
In some areas I take it back 50or 60 inches of snow.
Excuse me, that's what I saw onthe news last night.
They reported several of thesetowns got lake effect snows in
(06:48):
excess of 50 inches, up to 60inches, and that's serious,
serious stuff.
Oh my, you had an experience,didn't you?
Dj was getting stuck on theinterstate at one point with a
snowstorm.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I sure did.
Twice.
It happened in Kentucky and thestate trooper was so kind.
He said you got to leave yourcar here.
You got to take your onesuitcase with you.
And so I got in his patrol carand all of a sudden he makes
phone calls and he said I haveone male you know in his late
(07:24):
30s and he takes me to a collegecampus.
And I was there for four daysand I stayed in the culinary
school.
So I snowed in all right with abunch of cooks.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So it was delicious meals every day.
Well, dj, that must have beenlike 10 or 12 years ago if you
were in your 30s.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yes, why did they have to say how old you were?
That's ageism.
Dj, I'd have to talk to thestate patrol about that.
That's ageism isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
But he was trying to tell him because they had just
finished parents weekend, so aparent had gone home and took
their student with them, and Iended up taking the student's
room.
So it worked out for me, heyguys.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Tell our listeners what's coming up.
Well, 2025 is starting offreally well.
Dj we actually got a class in.
January January, of course wegot a free two-hour EV course in
Lake Charles Louisiana, andthat is followed by a one-day
heavy duty on the 25th and aone-day light duty on the 26th.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It's a great setup down there.
We work with Elite Servicesthere in Lake Charles.
They work with the association.
The association helps sponsorthe event Tele-Recovery
Professionals of Louisiana.
We've had Jared and several ofthe members on several times, so
that's really a fun weekenddown there with good networking
and whatnot, and hopefully LakeCharles will be a little bit
(09:06):
warmer than it is around heretoday.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And then in February we don't have far to go at all
whatsoever we have an extraclass in Fayetteville with
Phillips towing on February 8thfor a one-day advanced level
Lake Judy class.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, phillips is hosting.
It's an open class, open towhoever is listening.
A lot of folks have been askingfor something here in somewhat
local North Carolina, at leastlocal to where I live so one day
light duty on that SaturdayLooking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
We're going to be in Opelika, alabama, doing a class
in conjunction with CP Wreckerand Griffin Griffin, and again
on Friday we have the two-hourfree EV class.
On Saturday, the 8th, we havethe heavy duty with rotator one
day oh no, that's actually atwo-day heavy duty rotator class
(09:59):
Wes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, it sure is, and that's apparently the state
police are going to require sometraining and, what we
understand, we've been approvedto meet those requirements.
There's a big thing going on inAlabama with the state police.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Hopefully you're involved in the association down
there-hour ev3 class.
And then we have a two-dayheavy duty with rotator in
asheville, north carolina, inconjunction with the north
carolina tow association, andmidnight towing yeah, they're.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Uh, we're going to try to work that to asheville.
They're still working on thedetails, but right now that's
what's on the plans.
And midnight towing yeah, we'regoing to try to work that to
Asheville.
They're still working on thedetails, but right now that's
what's on the plans.
Try to get some tourists intothe area to help them out.
You know Asheville was heavilydamaged by the floods and
whatnot.
The local code there is the onethat's requested to bring it
(11:03):
there, and so we're trying tooccur his request to bring it
there.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
If not, we'll do a little bit east of there if we
can't make that Asheville Statework out and in April another
two-hour EV class on April the4th in Long Island, new York,
with all-county towing and Estra.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, the Empire State Towing and Recovery
association is doing asponsorship on that.
If you have a, if you're amember company, all the
employees you send there's adiscount that they'll they'll
pay part of the tuition.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Um on that two-day class the two-day class is a
one-day dance of a light duty onthe fifth and then there's a
one day heavy duty on the sixth,and if they go to um,
wwwamtowricom, ororg, they canget a lot of that information
(11:56):
yeah, again, if you're an extramember, there's an extra
discount.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You have to look it up on the thing to see exactly
what it is.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Depends on when you register, etc and in may, then
in may is the big one.
In may is that six day classwest yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
We're looking forward to that.
We're going to be out just westof st louis actually working on
it now.
They're acquiring somedifferent things for casualties.
They're also makingarrangements we're gonna have a
very heavy track vehicle that wecan get stuck on a piece of
farmland, but we can get thething really stuck.
Purpose Purpose Records.
Helping sponsor it, along withJNI slash.
(12:34):
Cardinal, we're looking forwardto that it's going to be when
you tell them what the detailsare.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
On Friday is the light duty version.
On Saturday and Sunday is atwo-day heavy duty with the
rotator, and then the 5th, 6thand seventh, which is the big
one, is the invincible heavyduty, and I think that you have
a special person coming in onthat one.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, that's right.
Tommy Luciano will come in andteach those three days.
The first three, I'll teachwith the help of my team.
Tommy will teach the last threewith the help We'll be there
assisting him, of course.
So we're looking forward to it.
It's a special class.
We're not going to one of thethings about the classes that he
teaches generally, depending onwho's hosting the class, the
(13:19):
class sizes will be very large.
I don't anticipate this thingbeing over 40 people.
As a matter of fact, we thinkit will end up being around 30.
There won't be 70 or 80 peoplethere.
So you'll get a chance to getone-on-one time with the
instructors, know who the otherstudents are, etc.
But again, I'm not knocking bigclasses, but you look at it
(13:40):
from a truly educationalstandpoint.
Once you get past 40, that's alot, you know, for a hands-on
class situation, to get studentstime doing things, working with
the equipment, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
We have a total package price.
This package price is $3,263.
There's an early birdregistration fee of $2,870.47.
That includes hotels.
That includes meals, thatincludes class.
That date is January the 5th.
If you register by that date,you will get that price.
(14:14):
Yeah it is a heck of a deal.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
All you have to do is get there, we'll take care of
everything else.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
If you fly in, we'll even get you picked up at the
airport with proper notice.
So got to make it easy on you,and it's going to be a
first-class event.
I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Last but not least, we have Medford Oregon in June.
So June the 20th we have aone-day light duty, and then
June the 21st and 27th we have atwo-day heavy duty with rotator
21st and 22nd.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Is that what you said ?
Yes, okay, yeah, we had a realgood class out there in Medford.
We got to meet some people.
First time in that part of theworld.
We did that a couple months ago.
We're coming back out there, sowe're looking forward to all
our West Coast people.
Several people told me that theyknow we were coming.
They would have had peoplethere.
So I would have had peoplethere if I didn't do a good job
(15:14):
of getting the word out aboutMedford.
Yeah, we're going to be outthere once a year at least from
now on, and we're coming out inthe spring this time to see if
that works a little bit betterwith the weather.
So we got to take a quick breakand then we got some exciting
stuff to talk about, don't we DJyou?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
sure do, buddy.
Let's take a break and we'll beright back.
Accuracy.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
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Speaker 1 (16:54):
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening tothe number one podcast in the
tone recovery industry With WesWilburn and DJ Harrington, and
you're listening to the AmericanTone Recovery Institute podcast
.
Every episode, we do our best.
Every Institute podcast, everyepisode, we do our best.
So, please, we're on Spotify,itunes, andorra Stitcher,
(17:16):
iheartmedia, amazon or whereveryou get your podcasts and Wes
talk about podcasts.
We have been so blessed.
A few months back we startedtalking about Tunnel to Towers.
A few months back we startedtalking about Tunnel to Towers
and you never know how manypeople listen to the podcast
that says you know what?
I might have a van to helphomeless veterans get
(17:41):
reestablished.
And that's what's happening.
We're involved with Tunnel toTowers and even Bill Johnson up
in Massachusetts has a van andwhat's real nice is off the air.
I told Wes in April about wehave JR Towing out of Colorado
(18:07):
and during just beforeThanksgiving break, he calls and
he said Mr Harrington, Ilistened to the podcast.
I said, well, do you have a van?
He said the van is totaled.
I said, well, why are youcalling Doug?
Doug is the owner of JR out inColorado and he says the
disabled person's ramp is inperfect condition.
(18:30):
So we are now negotiatinggetting a recycler to dismantle
the ramp in Colorado and have itshipped to Florida to put on a
van and donated by Steps Towing.
So it's one of these amazingthings, how people get involved
in this.
(18:51):
And if you're a listener andyou listen to Wes and myself, by
all means if you have a van, aneight-passenger van we are
helping the tunnel-to-towervillages all across the country
help eradicate homelessness forveterans.
They're taking old hotels andthey're making livable units.
(19:14):
So they have a galley kitchen,they have a bathroom, they have
a living room and everything iswheelchair accessible, including
the vans we're donating.
And the donation is on April11th in Orlando, florida, three
blocks from the Florida Toe Show.
So, wes, I can't thank ourlisteners enough.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I think that is wonderful.
And this is Totrick Canyon herewith you, dj.
That is wonderful.
We're going to try to be atboth of those things this year.
Definitely the Tunnel to theTowers thing that we've watched
these testimonials on TV all thetime, and it's heartbreaking to
watch the vets come back likethat, and it's heartwarming to
(20:03):
watch what people are doing inthese occasions too.
So it's bit bittersweet.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
That's the definition of bittersweet yes, and we've
been working on it for monthsand I cannot thank our listeners
enough for participating.
So you know, by all means, keepus in your prayers, keep, uh,
if you have anyone who has a vanlooking for you know, like an
passenger van or it could be a10 passenger van by the time you
(20:32):
put the handicap ramp in theback.
We're learning.
We can't put it on the side ofthe van because it's the
accessibility of getting in andout of the van is not good on
the side, but people that areknowledgeable have informed me
that having the ramp come outthe back of the van is the best
(20:53):
way, no matter where you park.
Yeah, so it worked out great.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
That's good.
We live in a high veteranpopulation town.
We're here at Fort Bragg, northCarolina, fayetteville of
Fayetteville, and you see a lotof homeless vets and it's
absolutely disgusting that thecountry can't do a better job,
especially when you see how muchmoney is being spent on housing
illegal immigrants and whatnot.
There's the Roosevelt Hotel,which used to be a fine hotel.
(21:22):
From what I understand, it'sbeen taken over by them, and I'm
not trying to get political,I'm just saying we should be
able to take care of our ownbefore we take care of people
outside the country, providing afree room and board where our
own veterans can certainly useit, and we're proud to be
affiliated with it and we thankyou, dj, for the work you've
done.
You're the driving force behindthis organization being
(21:45):
involved and we can't thank youenough for what you do.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Well, let me tell you they sent me over the six flags
in georgia that they had one,the first one was in houston,
and then they're building one innashville, tennessee, and now
the one in atlanta.
So I go down and he says it'sright near six flags.
So I get off the exit, off the20 in at Atlanta, I head towards
the Six Flags and I'm sittingthere in the Six Flags parking
(22:15):
lot.
Now, listeners, listen up Iturn to the right.
Here's a Western Hotel that hasbeen out of business for maybe
a year, two years vacant.
Tunnel to Towers has bought thehotel and they're now gutting
it and making it accessible.
They're going to have 92 unitsand the whole intention is to
(22:38):
eradicate homelessness betweenveterans and they're going to
have 92 residences on the second, third and fourth floor, and on
the first floor is going to beservices for the veterans.
So it's going to be fantasticand I can't thank enough for the
prayers of all our listeners,but also for the people
(23:00):
participating.
I really appreciate you, wes.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Thank you Well.
Thank you, dj.
It's hard to talk over you.
That's area by Six Flags.
Last time I was around you, dj,I'm sorry to talk over you that
area by Six Flags.
Last time I was around there, Iwas actually headed out to see
you and Chuck to do a podcastand we were doing a live with
three people and I was runninglate due to Atlanta traffic and
(23:23):
pulled over there in the SixFlags area Boy.
That area is ripe forredevelopment.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
It's not only helping the veterans.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
It's helping the area .
That's good to hear.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's a polite way of saying it.
It's a redevelopment area.
That's the polite way to say it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It needs to be redeveloped.
It happens in every Americancity, big city or small city, so
it's good to see that allthat's meeting together so real
quick.
I want to talk about somethingelse with charity.
We just did the fire towercross training class and it
reminded me of the importanceand the need of telling
companies to donate to theirlocal fire department, to their
(24:13):
local and state fire academies.
Donate cars, complete cars.
Don't strip them down.
Don't take the wheels and thecatalytic converters off.
Give them complete cars.
More working portions of it thebetter.
It's got electric sheets andand stuff, leaving a battery in
it so they can.
(24:33):
When they extract the victimsin the seat belts, they move the
seats forward and things likethat make a big difference.
Check with your accountant.
It's a write-off, more thanlikely.
Um, donating cars, somethinglike that?
Again, you need to talk to youraccountant, but that's more
than likely a write-off for you.
It's the end of the year, so Iknow folks are looking for
(24:55):
write-offs, so keep that in theback of your mind as well it's a
good thing to do and it's muchneeded, yeah all departments
needed.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Pardon me, all fire departments needed.
Yeah, the little town of fortmyers.
They actually gave a letterthat you bring to your cpa and
it says thank you for thedonation of six vehicles or
eight vehicles, and that you putthe inventory down of what the
vehicle's value is and you get aportion of that value off your
(25:34):
taxes because it's going to anonprofit, which is the fire
department.
So it's really a good write-off.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
We tell people when they donate for classes to do
the same thing.
Donating units for classes todo the same thing, donating
units for classes.
It surprised me how few peopledo that.
It's like membership to ourorganization things that cost to
do a class, all that again.
You need to check with youraccount.
I'm not an accountant, butshort business people I know
tell me they can write most, ifnot all of that.
(26:04):
All, yeah, so always a goodidea at the end of the year to
be thinking about those things,isn't it?
Business people I know tell methey can write most, if not all
of that all yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
So always a good idea at the end of the year to be
thinking about those things,isn't it?
After all, it is a business, itsure is.
I know my family has justdonated all the tires for a
veteran museum up in New Jerseyand I said to my nephew I said,
well, how did you land up doingthat?
He said, uncle DJ, it's gettingnear the end of the year.
We either pay Uncle Sam or wegive the money to a veteran
(26:39):
organization.
So we're just helping out andit's good tax write-off.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That's a good way of thinking about it too.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, we have several people that do the same with us
and we're really appreciativeof that.
It makes a big difference.
Keep the movement going.
Well, dj, we need to take aquick break and after the break,
I got some news I want to talkabout, and then we're going to
get this thing, over and donewith you got it.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Let's take a break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
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In many cases, the quality ofyour equipment and supplies can
make a huge difference.
Our representatives areknowledgeable in the towing
(28:10):
industry, so for the best towingequipment and supplies, count
on the team at Towing EquipmentDirect.
Browse our catalog online attowingequipmentdirectcom or give
us a call at 910-747-9000.
That's 910-747-9000.
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We look forward to serving you.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Welcome back listeners.
You know this is the AmericanTone Recovery Institute podcast
with Wes Wilburn and DJArrington.
Remember to like, review andshare everywhere.
If you'd like to tell us yourassociation and things that are
happening with your towingassociation, by all means just
(28:50):
dial at the right hotline in thepodcast center, 706-409-5603,
and we will do our best.
Wes and I and the team atAmerican Towing Recovery
Institute will be happy to helpget that professional pro on
this podcast.
So, wes, let me turn it over toyou and we'll go from there.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I'm going to actually kick this one off.
Okay, dj, you got it.
We're doing the news now.
So one of the things that Ifound was Iowa towing industry
is pushing back againstcriticisms as lawmakers weigh
new regulations.
This is probably something Weshas input on, so I'm going to
defer to him.
In a second, particularlyinvolving Crow Tow in Des Moines
(29:39):
, iowa, however, the industryleaders emphasize their
essential role in maintainingaccess to private.
Here's my summary.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I would tiny comment as well yeah, the industry
leaders emphasized theiressential role in maintaining
access to private land.
Here's my summary.
I would time you to comment aswell.
There's a lawsuit for a younglady that was injured at the tow
lot.
Part of what she said wasbecause the tow lot company
gives its drivers bonuses forachieving tows on private
(30:06):
property tows, they created apredatory towing environment.
Somebody that had picked uptheir car or was stealing their
car out of the tow lot doesn'treally make it clear because it
kind of indicates that they weretaking their car back, Ran over
this young lady with poordriving and the young lady sued
them but also sued the towingcompany for the conditions.
(30:28):
It's one of these many types oflawsuits that happen nowadays
Just being involved gets youdrug into the situation and
they're saying they created theenvironment.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Yeah, they said they created the environment, but the
actual tow operators were notthe ones at fault, the ones that
did it.
It's the environment that wascreated.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Yes, they made that clear and they talked about it,
but the articles written withthe slant of the consumer were
not very fair to the towingindustry.
In my opinion, private propertytowing, when handled properly,
is a necessary evil.
When handled improperly, itbecomes just evil.
Basically, in my opinion I talkabout this every time I talk
(31:10):
about the subject of privateproperty towing Part of the
issue is the zoning that landwas zoned for, the usage.
That creates that parkingburden.
If towing is going on all thetime, the land is not zoned
correctly for the amount oftraffic and that's the beginning
of the problem.
Towing is the band-aid solution, but it's a broken leg problem
(31:33):
that needs to be dealt with.
What other things in thatarticle came to?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I kind of read it a little bit more in depth and I
forget why she was there to pickup the car.
But when we read these storiesabout these individuals who are
in these situations and hers isa little bit more skewed because
she got injured there's asituation that we're putting
ourselves into.
If we park in a spot that we'renot supposed to park in, that
(32:03):
gets the car picked up.
But what is picked up by thenews is that a poor, unfortunate
person got their car picked upand the fee was too much or, in
this situation, she was hurt.
So it turns everybody into avictim, which is unfortunate.
That's what I picked up on it.
They just turned this younglady into a victim.
(32:26):
She was.
She got hit by somebody elsedriving out the car that was
also doing the wrong thing right, the telling company really had
no direct connection to that.
They were just there doing theirthing, in my opinion but that's
the world we live in nowadaysso, wes, I came across this
other article about a tow truckdriver being attacked with a
(32:50):
hammer in a road rage incident.
Looks like they were at theinterstate of 17 and Greenway
Road in Phoenix, arizona.
The tow truck I don't know whatcaused the driver of the car to
be so irate, but he attacked atow truck operator with a hammer
.
The tow truck operatorretaliated by using his truck
(33:18):
and it went much worse afterthat.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Yeah, unfortunately it's a bad situation all the way
around and things happenquickly.
But you always have to rememberde-escalation is the key.
And also, you have a right toself-defense, but somebody has
to be attacking you once thatattack stops.
I'm no expert on this, by anystretch of imagination, but you
got to be very careful thatyou're not know.
(33:44):
So, um, just de-escalation isthe best, getting yourself out
of the situation the best youcan.
Very unfortunate.
Obviously, if a man's beingattacked, he has a right to
defend himself, but I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
I think this was a gray area here it was kind of
bad enough that they both needto go to the hospital and from
what.
I read, once they're releasedfrom the hospital, they're both
going to be detained by thepolice.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Yeah, that's what leads me to believe that there's
a question about when theattack ends and self-defense
starts.
And of course we have thishorrible situation going on in
New York City right now.
That juries out on thatsituation.
So I'm not trying to comparethe two, but that's an example
where somebody did somethingpositive to prevent a situation.
(34:32):
So hopefully this all sortsitself out.
We pray for everybody involved.
That's it for our news wrap forthe day.
Thanks to our listeners, We'llbe back next week More news.
I keep hearing everybody likesus reviewing the news, so we're
going to focus on that more andmore as we go forward.
Thanks for listening.
(34:53):
Be safe out there.
Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery
Institute podcast.
Remember this is your podcast topromote safety, education,
positive public relations andnetworking within the
professional and business-mindedtowing and recovery industry.
I'm your co-host, dj Harrington, better known as the Tow Doctor
(00:27):
, and my other host is WesWilburn, over 40-year towing
industry veteran, the founder ofAmerican Towing Recovery
Institute of Fayetteville, northCarolina.
He has produced and conductedtraining and certification
programs for leading towingcompanies, equipment
(00:48):
distributors, towingassociations, dot, fire
departments, rescue, as well asmilitary installations across
the United States.
Wes has been published over 100times in major towing
publications published over 100times in major towing
(01:08):
publications.
Wes has developed many courses,including the most recent
awareness-level course for allresponders that specialize in
electric vehicles as well ashybrid, natural gas and hydrogen
vehicles.
Wes has provided insight as themain speaker for over 30 years
at more than 900 trainingclasses and has been recognized
(01:31):
as one of America's greatesttowing trainers.
He is well known for hisstraightforward but
down-to-earth teaching style.
No-transcript.
(02:08):
Without further ado, here's mydear friend and a great guy for
our industry, wes Wilber.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, DJ, as always, you're too kind with your
introduction.
I certainly appreciate it.
Excited to be back here Justgot done with Thanksgiving and
everything.
How was your Thanksgiving inyour household?
It was fantastic the be backhere Just got done with
Thanksgiving and everything.
How was your Thanksgiving inyour household?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
It was fantastic.
The grandchildren were here, wehad a great, gigantic turkey.
It was a good, good time.
Good time by all.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Thanksgiving and we're still having turkey.
I think today's our last day ofturkey.
I think we're pretty well tiredof it.
It was a really goodThanksgiving.
We just went out to actuallyeat Thanksgiving Day and then I
made a big dinner for two people.
That's why we're still eatingturkey.
It was very good.
(03:03):
I haven't had it cooked for afew days.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
That's another good thing now, wes can I ask you
guys, does she cook sweet potatocasserole?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
no, no, we didn't have it.
She didn't cook any.
With our meal, which, again,we'll cover just two, and you do
the potatoes and the stuffingand some vegetables of some sort
, yeah, but no, to answer yourquestion directly.
When you come for just two andyou do the potatoes and stuff
and then some, you know,vegetables of some sort, yeah,
gets to be a lot, but no, toanswer your question directly.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But I did make banana cream pies, not the same thing.
No, you know, not bad.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Not bad, not bad.
Well, I am now a believer onsweet potato casserole, which I
was not before, but I am now.
Pretty good, isn't it?
Oh, which I was not before, butI am now Pretty good, isn't it?
Oh, it was delicious and I hopeall our listeners had a great
Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, hopefully they did.
Hopefully they got to enjoy themeal with their family, not get
called out.
But a lot of people don'trealize that outside of the
industry is a tremendous servicethe average telling company
gives to their community bykeeping the doors open 24-7,
respond to emergency calls andwhatnot.
A lot of people don't thinkabout that.
I don't believe you, jay.
(04:11):
Along with all the other peopleand services the fire, the
police, of course, but hospitals, electric companies A lot of
people keep things running,don't they?
They sure do.
A lot of people keep thingsrunning, don't they?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
They sure do, and I did not understand this until a
few years ago.
I spent Thanksgiving with KevinFox down at Alligator Towing in
Fort Myers, florida, and hesays come on down, they're doing
one of these turkey roasts.
So I go down there, he has menout on trucks.
So I go down there, he has menout on trucks and all of a
(04:45):
sudden A three car accident.
Everybody gets asked to get upand we're all in cars, trucks
heading out to the accident.
And we came back later thatnight and finished the meal.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah, that's happened more than once.
And a lot of folks don'trealize it.
Again, I believe the towingindustry does not get the
recognition it deserves from itscommunity and whatnot.
The deeper we're getting intodoing the news.
There's an example of an articletoday that we're going to talk
about in the second portion, Iguess maybe the third, whatever
we get to it.
But the general public justreally doesn't understand the
(05:22):
industry at all and makesassumptions et cetera, where the
general public just reallydoesn't understand the industry
at all and makes assumptions etcetera.
So it's a shame but hopefullyeverybody had a safe and good
Thanksgiving, got to have a mealat some point.
Hopefully it wasn't interrupted.
But we know that the scenariohas played out time and time
again.
Talking about being interrupted, you might be interrupted.
(05:44):
Boy, they got a lot of snowthere in western New York and
Pennsylvania again.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You got the board on?
Yeah, it's been the second timethat I've seen reports on
social media where thePennsylvania State Police were
requesting additional towingservices in parts of the state.
A week ago, during the?
Uh beginning of the busy travelweek, I guess the weekend of
the baltimore show the?
Um had a lot of snow in thatregion and, um and uh, the state
(06:16):
police called out for help thattime and then a week later they
called out for help in anotherregion that's with so much snow
um, I don't know that.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I've heard of that happening before I know.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
a lot of tellers are working around the clock up
there and I hope they're takinga little bit of time for some
rest and nourishment, because itgets dangerous real quick,
especially they're workingwhiteout conditions with five
and six foot of snow.
In some areas I take it back 50or 60 inches of snow.
Excuse me, that's what I saw onthe news last night.
They reported several of thesetowns got lake effect snows in
(06:48):
excess of 50 inches, up to 60inches, and that's serious,
serious stuff.
Oh my, you had an experience,didn't you?
Dj was getting stuck on theinterstate at one point with a
snowstorm.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I sure did.
Twice.
It happened in Kentucky and thestate trooper was so kind.
He said you got to leave yourcar here.
You got to take your onesuitcase with you.
And so I got in his patrol carand all of a sudden he makes
phone calls and he said I haveone male you know in his late
(07:24):
30s and he takes me to a collegecampus.
And I was there for four daysand I stayed in the culinary
school.
So I snowed in all right with abunch of cooks.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So it was delicious meals every day.
Well, dj, that must have beenlike 10 or 12 years ago if you
were in your 30s.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yes, why did they have to say how old you were?
That's ageism.
Dj, I'd have to talk to thestate patrol about that.
That's ageism isn't it?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
But he was trying to tell him because they had just
finished parents weekend, so aparent had gone home and took
their student with them, and Iended up taking the student's
room.
So it worked out for me, heyguys.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Tell our listeners what's coming up.
Well, 2025 is starting offreally well.
Dj we actually got a class in.
January January, of course wegot a free two-hour EV course in
Lake Charles Louisiana, andthat is followed by a one-day
heavy duty on the 25th and aone-day light duty on the 26th.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It's a great setup down there.
We work with Elite Servicesthere in Lake Charles.
They work with the association.
The association helps sponsorthe event Tele-Recovery
Professionals of Louisiana.
We've had Jared and several ofthe members on several times, so
that's really a fun weekenddown there with good networking
and whatnot, and hopefully LakeCharles will be a little bit
(09:06):
warmer than it is around heretoday.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And then in February we don't have far to go at all
whatsoever we have an extraclass in Fayetteville with
Phillips towing on February 8thfor a one-day advanced level
Lake Judy class.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, phillips is hosting.
It's an open class, open towhoever is listening.
A lot of folks have been askingfor something here in somewhat
local North Carolina, at leastlocal to where I live so one day
light duty on that SaturdayLooking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
We're going to be in Opelika, alabama, doing a class
in conjunction with CP Wreckerand Griffin Griffin, and again
on Friday we have the two-hourfree EV class.
On Saturday, the 8th, we havethe heavy duty with rotator one
day oh no, that's actually atwo-day heavy duty rotator class
(09:59):
Wes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, it sure is, and that's apparently the state
police are going to require sometraining and, what we
understand, we've been approvedto meet those requirements.
There's a big thing going on inAlabama with the state police.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Hopefully you're involved in the association down
there-hour ev3 class.
And then we have a two-dayheavy duty with rotator in
asheville, north carolina, inconjunction with the north
carolina tow association, andmidnight towing yeah, they're.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Uh, we're going to try to work that to asheville.
They're still working on thedetails, but right now that's
what's on the plans.
And midnight towing yeah, we'regoing to try to work that to
Asheville.
They're still working on thedetails, but right now that's
what's on the plans.
Try to get some tourists intothe area to help them out.
You know Asheville was heavilydamaged by the floods and
whatnot.
The local code there is the onethat's requested to bring it
(11:03):
there, and so we're trying tooccur his request to bring it
there.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
If not, we'll do a little bit east of there if we
can't make that Asheville Statework out and in April another
two-hour EV class on April the4th in Long Island, new York,
with all-county towing and Estra.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, the Empire State Towing and Recovery
association is doing asponsorship on that.
If you have a, if you're amember company, all the
employees you send there's adiscount that they'll they'll
pay part of the tuition.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Um on that two-day class the two-day class is a
one-day dance of a light duty onthe fifth and then there's a
one day heavy duty on the sixth,and if they go to um,
wwwamtowricom, ororg, they canget a lot of that information
(11:56):
yeah, again, if you're an extramember, there's an extra
discount.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You have to look it up on the thing to see exactly
what it is.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Depends on when you register, etc and in may, then
in may is the big one.
In may is that six day classwest yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
We're looking forward to that.
We're going to be out just westof st louis actually working on
it now.
They're acquiring somedifferent things for casualties.
They're also makingarrangements we're gonna have a
very heavy track vehicle that wecan get stuck on a piece of
farmland, but we can get thething really stuck.
Purpose Purpose Records.
Helping sponsor it, along withJNI slash.
(12:34):
Cardinal, we're looking forwardto that it's going to be when
you tell them what the detailsare.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
On Friday is the light duty version.
On Saturday and Sunday is atwo-day heavy duty with the
rotator, and then the 5th, 6thand seventh, which is the big
one, is the invincible heavyduty, and I think that you have
a special person coming in onthat one.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, that's right.
Tommy Luciano will come in andteach those three days.
The first three, I'll teachwith the help of my team.
Tommy will teach the last threewith the help We'll be there
assisting him, of course.
So we're looking forward to it.
It's a special class.
We're not going to one of thethings about the classes that he
teaches generally, depending onwho's hosting the class, the
(13:19):
class sizes will be very large.
I don't anticipate this thingbeing over 40 people.
As a matter of fact, we thinkit will end up being around 30.
There won't be 70 or 80 peoplethere.
So you'll get a chance to getone-on-one time with the
instructors, know who the otherstudents are, etc.
But again, I'm not knocking bigclasses, but you look at it
(13:40):
from a truly educationalstandpoint.
Once you get past 40, that's alot, you know, for a hands-on
class situation, to get studentstime doing things, working with
the equipment, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
We have a total package price.
This package price is $3,263.
There's an early birdregistration fee of $2,870.47.
That includes hotels.
That includes meals, thatincludes class.
That date is January the 5th.
If you register by that date,you will get that price.
(14:14):
Yeah it is a heck of a deal.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
All you have to do is get there, we'll take care of
everything else.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
If you fly in, we'll even get you picked up at the
airport with proper notice.
So got to make it easy on you,and it's going to be a
first-class event.
I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Last but not least, we have Medford Oregon in June.
So June the 20th we have aone-day light duty, and then
June the 21st and 27th we have atwo-day heavy duty with rotator
21st and 22nd.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Is that what you said ?
Yes, okay, yeah, we had a realgood class out there in Medford.
We got to meet some people.
First time in that part of theworld.
We did that a couple months ago.
We're coming back out there, sowe're looking forward to all
our West Coast people.
Several people told me that theyknow we were coming.
They would have had peoplethere.
So I would have had peoplethere if I didn't do a good job
(15:14):
of getting the word out aboutMedford.
Yeah, we're going to be outthere once a year at least from
now on, and we're coming out inthe spring this time to see if
that works a little bit betterwith the weather.
So we got to take a quick breakand then we got some exciting
stuff to talk about, don't we DJyou?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
sure do, buddy.
Let's take a break and we'll beright back.
Accuracy.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
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that makes all of us safer arewhat makes this industry special
.
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When there is a need, gayRochester is always one of the
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The American Towing andRecovery Institute is honored to
(15:52):
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Speaker 4 (16:02):
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Speaker 1 (16:54):
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening tothe number one podcast in the
tone recovery industry With WesWilburn and DJ Harrington, and
you're listening to the AmericanTone Recovery Institute podcast
.
Every episode, we do our best.
Every Institute podcast, everyepisode, we do our best.
So, please, we're on Spotify,itunes, andorra Stitcher,
(17:16):
iheartmedia, amazon or whereveryou get your podcasts and Wes
talk about podcasts.
We have been so blessed.
A few months back we startedtalking about Tunnel to Towers.
A few months back we startedtalking about Tunnel to Towers
and you never know how manypeople listen to the podcast
that says you know what?
I might have a van to helphomeless veterans get
(17:41):
reestablished.
And that's what's happening.
We're involved with Tunnel toTowers and even Bill Johnson up
in Massachusetts has a van andwhat's real nice is off the air.
I told Wes in April about wehave JR Towing out of Colorado
(18:07):
and during just beforeThanksgiving break, he calls and
he said Mr Harrington, Ilistened to the podcast.
I said, well, do you have a van?
He said the van is totaled.
I said, well, why are youcalling Doug?
Doug is the owner of JR out inColorado and he says the
disabled person's ramp is inperfect condition.
(18:30):
So we are now negotiatinggetting a recycler to dismantle
the ramp in Colorado and have itshipped to Florida to put on a
van and donated by Steps Towing.
So it's one of these amazingthings, how people get involved
in this.
(18:51):
And if you're a listener andyou listen to Wes and myself, by
all means if you have a van, aneight-passenger van we are
helping the tunnel-to-towervillages all across the country
help eradicate homelessness forveterans.
They're taking old hotels andthey're making livable units.
(19:14):
So they have a galley kitchen,they have a bathroom, they have
a living room and everything iswheelchair accessible, including
the vans we're donating.
And the donation is on April11th in Orlando, florida, three
blocks from the Florida Toe Show.
So, wes, I can't thank ourlisteners enough.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I think that is wonderful.
And this is Totrick Canyon herewith you, dj.
That is wonderful.
We're going to try to be atboth of those things this year.
Definitely the Tunnel to theTowers thing that we've watched
these testimonials on TV all thetime, and it's heartbreaking to
watch the vets come back likethat, and it's heartwarming to
(20:03):
watch what people are doing inthese occasions too.
So it's bit bittersweet.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
That's the definition of bittersweet yes, and we've
been working on it for monthsand I cannot thank our listeners
enough for participating.
So you know, by all means, keepus in your prayers, keep, uh,
if you have anyone who has a vanlooking for you know, like an
passenger van or it could be a10 passenger van by the time you
(20:32):
put the handicap ramp in theback.
We're learning.
We can't put it on the side ofthe van because it's the
accessibility of getting in andout of the van is not good on
the side, but people that areknowledgeable have informed me
that having the ramp come outthe back of the van is the best
(20:53):
way, no matter where you park.
Yeah, so it worked out great.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
That's good.
We live in a high veteranpopulation town.
We're here at Fort Bragg, northCarolina, fayetteville of
Fayetteville, and you see a lotof homeless vets and it's
absolutely disgusting that thecountry can't do a better job,
especially when you see how muchmoney is being spent on housing
illegal immigrants and whatnot.
There's the Roosevelt Hotel,which used to be a fine hotel.
(21:22):
From what I understand, it'sbeen taken over by them, and I'm
not trying to get political,I'm just saying we should be
able to take care of our ownbefore we take care of people
outside the country, providing afree room and board where our
own veterans can certainly useit, and we're proud to be
affiliated with it and we thankyou, dj, for the work you've
done.
You're the driving force behindthis organization being
(21:45):
involved and we can't thank youenough for what you do.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Well, let me tell you they sent me over the six flags
in georgia that they had one,the first one was in houston,
and then they're building one innashville, tennessee, and now
the one in atlanta.
So I go down and he says it'sright near six flags.
So I get off the exit, off the20 in at Atlanta, I head towards
the Six Flags and I'm sittingthere in the Six Flags parking
(22:15):
lot.
Now, listeners, listen up Iturn to the right.
Here's a Western Hotel that hasbeen out of business for maybe
a year, two years vacant.
Tunnel to Towers has bought thehotel and they're now gutting
it and making it accessible.
They're going to have 92 unitsand the whole intention is to
(22:38):
eradicate homelessness betweenveterans and they're going to
have 92 residences on the second, third and fourth floor, and on
the first floor is going to beservices for the veterans.
So it's going to be fantasticand I can't thank enough for the
prayers of all our listeners,but also for the people
(23:00):
participating.
I really appreciate you, wes.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Thank you Well.
Thank you, dj.
It's hard to talk over you.
That's area by Six Flags.
Last time I was around you, dj,I'm sorry to talk over you that
area by Six Flags.
Last time I was around there, Iwas actually headed out to see
you and Chuck to do a podcastand we were doing a live with
three people and I was runninglate due to Atlanta traffic and
(23:23):
pulled over there in the SixFlags area Boy.
That area is ripe forredevelopment.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
It's not only helping the veterans.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
It's helping the area .
That's good to hear.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's a polite way of saying it.
It's a redevelopment area.
That's the polite way to say it.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It needs to be redeveloped.
It happens in every Americancity, big city or small city, so
it's good to see that allthat's meeting together so real
quick.
I want to talk about somethingelse with charity.
We just did the fire towercross training class and it
reminded me of the importanceand the need of telling
companies to donate to theirlocal fire department, to their
(24:13):
local and state fire academies.
Donate cars, complete cars.
Don't strip them down.
Don't take the wheels and thecatalytic converters off.
Give them complete cars.
More working portions of it thebetter.
It's got electric sheets andand stuff, leaving a battery in
it so they can.
(24:33):
When they extract the victimsin the seat belts, they move the
seats forward and things likethat make a big difference.
Check with your accountant.
It's a write-off, more thanlikely.
Um, donating cars, somethinglike that?
Again, you need to talk to youraccountant, but that's more
than likely a write-off for you.
It's the end of the year, so Iknow folks are looking for
(24:55):
write-offs, so keep that in theback of your mind as well it's a
good thing to do and it's muchneeded, yeah all departments
needed.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Pardon me, all fire departments needed.
Yeah, the little town of fortmyers.
They actually gave a letterthat you bring to your cpa and
it says thank you for thedonation of six vehicles or
eight vehicles, and that you putthe inventory down of what the
vehicle's value is and you get aportion of that value off your
(25:34):
taxes because it's going to anonprofit, which is the fire
department.
So it's really a good write-off.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
We tell people when they donate for classes to do
the same thing.
Donating units for classes todo the same thing, donating
units for classes.
It surprised me how few peopledo that.
It's like membership to ourorganization things that cost to
do a class, all that again.
You need to check with youraccount.
I'm not an accountant, butshort business people I know
tell me they can write most, ifnot all of that.
(26:04):
All, yeah, so always a goodidea at the end of the year to
be thinking about those things,isn't it?
Business people I know tell methey can write most, if not all
of that all yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
So always a good idea at the end of the year to be
thinking about those things,isn't it?
After all, it is a business, itsure is.
I know my family has justdonated all the tires for a
veteran museum up in New Jerseyand I said to my nephew I said,
well, how did you land up doingthat?
He said, uncle DJ, it's gettingnear the end of the year.
We either pay Uncle Sam or wegive the money to a veteran
(26:39):
organization.
So we're just helping out andit's good tax write-off.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That's a good way of thinking about it too.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, we have several people that do the same with us
and we're really appreciativeof that.
It makes a big difference.
Keep the movement going.
Well, dj, we need to take aquick break and after the break,
I got some news I want to talkabout, and then we're going to
get this thing, over and donewith you got it.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Let's take a break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
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Speaker 1 (28:30):
Welcome back listeners.
You know this is the AmericanTone Recovery Institute podcast
with Wes Wilburn and DJArrington.
Remember to like, review andshare everywhere.
If you'd like to tell us yourassociation and things that are
happening with your towingassociation, by all means just
(28:50):
dial at the right hotline in thepodcast center, 706-409-5603,
and we will do our best.
Wes and I and the team atAmerican Towing Recovery
Institute will be happy to helpget that professional pro on
this podcast.
So, wes, let me turn it over toyou and we'll go from there.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I'm going to actually kick this one off.
Okay, dj, you got it.
We're doing the news now.
So one of the things that Ifound was Iowa towing industry
is pushing back againstcriticisms as lawmakers weigh
new regulations.
This is probably something Weshas input on, so I'm going to
defer to him.
In a second, particularlyinvolving Crow Tow in Des Moines
(29:39):
, iowa, however, the industryleaders emphasize their
essential role in maintainingaccess to private.
Here's my summary.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I would tiny comment as well yeah, the industry
leaders emphasized theiressential role in maintaining
access to private land.
Here's my summary.
I would time you to comment aswell.
There's a lawsuit for a younglady that was injured at the tow
lot.
Part of what she said wasbecause the tow lot company
gives its drivers bonuses forachieving tows on private
(30:06):
property tows, they created apredatory towing environment.
Somebody that had picked uptheir car or was stealing their
car out of the tow lot doesn'treally make it clear because it
kind of indicates that they weretaking their car back, Ran over
this young lady with poordriving and the young lady sued
them but also sued the towingcompany for the conditions.
(30:28):
It's one of these many types oflawsuits that happen nowadays
Just being involved gets youdrug into the situation and
they're saying they created theenvironment.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Yeah, they said they created the environment, but the
actual tow operators were notthe ones at fault, the ones that
did it.
It's the environment that wascreated.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Yes, they made that clear and they talked about it,
but the articles written withthe slant of the consumer were
not very fair to the towingindustry.
In my opinion, private propertytowing, when handled properly,
is a necessary evil.
When handled improperly, itbecomes just evil.
Basically, in my opinion I talkabout this every time I talk
(31:10):
about the subject of privateproperty towing Part of the
issue is the zoning that landwas zoned for, the usage.
That creates that parkingburden.
If towing is going on all thetime, the land is not zoned
correctly for the amount oftraffic and that's the beginning
of the problem.
Towing is the band-aid solution, but it's a broken leg problem
(31:33):
that needs to be dealt with.
What other things in thatarticle came to?
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I kind of read it a little bit more in depth and I
forget why she was there to pickup the car.
But when we read these storiesabout these individuals who are
in these situations and hers isa little bit more skewed because
she got injured there's asituation that we're putting
ourselves into.
If we park in a spot that we'renot supposed to park in, that
(32:03):
gets the car picked up.
But what is picked up by thenews is that a poor, unfortunate
person got their car picked upand the fee was too much or, in
this situation, she was hurt.
So it turns everybody into avictim, which is unfortunate.
That's what I picked up on it.
They just turned this younglady into a victim.
(32:26):
She was.
She got hit by somebody elsedriving out the car that was
also doing the wrong thing right, the telling company really had
no direct connection to that.
They were just there doing theirthing, in my opinion but that's
the world we live in nowadaysso, wes, I came across this
other article about a tow truckdriver being attacked with a
(32:50):
hammer in a road rage incident.
Looks like they were at theinterstate of 17 and Greenway
Road in Phoenix, arizona.
The tow truck I don't know whatcaused the driver of the car to
be so irate, but he attacked atow truck operator with a hammer
.
The tow truck operatorretaliated by using his truck
(33:18):
and it went much worse afterthat.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Yeah, unfortunately it's a bad situation all the way
around and things happenquickly.
But you always have to rememberde-escalation is the key.
And also, you have a right toself-defense, but somebody has
to be attacking you once thatattack stops.
I'm no expert on this, by anystretch of imagination, but you
got to be very careful thatyou're not know.
(33:44):
So, um, just de-escalation isthe best, getting yourself out
of the situation the best youcan.
Very unfortunate.
Obviously, if a man's beingattacked, he has a right to
defend himself, but I don't know.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
I think this was a gray area here it was kind of
bad enough that they both needto go to the hospital and from
what.
I read, once they're releasedfrom the hospital, they're both
going to be detained by thepolice.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Yeah, that's what leads me to believe that there's
a question about when theattack ends and self-defense
starts.
And of course we have thishorrible situation going on in
New York City right now.
That juries out on thatsituation.
So I'm not trying to comparethe two, but that's an example
where somebody did somethingpositive to prevent a situation.
(34:32):
So hopefully this all sortsitself out.
We pray for everybody involved.
That's it for our news wrap forthe day.
Thanks to our listeners, We'llbe back next week More news.
I keep hearing everybody likesus reviewing the news, so we're
going to focus on that more andmore as we go forward.
Thanks for listening.
(34:53):
Be safe out there.
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