October 6, 2025 • 41 mins
What if a single choice—choosing grace—could change the way we work the white line? We open with a raw reflection on public grief, forgiveness, and the quiet power of listening, then connect those values to the most practical lever we have: training that sticks under pressure. From youth engagement and more honest speech to concrete drills in brush-filled gravel pits, we explore how character and skill reinforce each other when the scene gets loud and the angles matter.
We welcome back owner-operator Michael Lard, who walks us through building an effective learning environment: partnering with a fire department for a professional classroom, then moving to field scenarios that mimic true recoveries—uneven ground, tall weeds, limited sightlines, and all. Michael explains why light-duty fundamentals scale to rotators and heavy-duty jobs, and why he often hires “green” talent to cultivate clean habits from day one. We get into the math beneath the muscle—rigging choices, load paths, and anchor strategies—while acknowledging the human side: humility beats bravado, and teachability can save a career.
There’s also a look at the ecosystem that makes operators better. Cross-training with fire teams tightens command handoffs and reduces chaos at scenes. Neighboring companies that cooperate during peak demand or holidays build resilience without sacrificing service. And yes—investing in classes and certifications for light, heavy, electric, and alternative-fuel vehicles pays off in fewer incidents, stronger retention, and a culture people want to join. We close with upcoming training dates and a reminder that your voice shapes this show: subscribe, share, and tell us who you want to hear next. If this conversation pushed you to rethink how you lead—or how you learn—drop a review and tag a teammate who should be in the next class.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_07 (00:04):
You're on the train to success with April and Wes
Wilburn.
I'm DJ Harrington, the co-host,better known as the Toad Doctor.
We're all on our way to the townof proper towing and recovery,
along with our producer ChuckCamp in the studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
(00:26):
You could have done this.
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests.
So if you have Spotify, iTunes,Pandora, Stitcher, iArt Media,
or the number one podcast, ormaybe Amazon, or wherever you
(00:49):
get your podcast, turn in onWednesday and be turned on all
week long.
If you are a State Associationand watch your announcements or
upcoming State Association news,or maybe a co-show that's coming
up, let us know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
(01:15):
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the American Dome
Recovery Institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April andMiss.
Thank you, DJ.
As always, I appreciate yourkind words.
Appreciate you being here today.
(01:35):
Yeah, of course we appreciateall the fans.
Can't believe we have 20,000 uhsubscribers.
SPEAKER_06 (01:42):
If you haven't subscribed to us, please hit
that subscribe button.
We really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_08 (01:50):
Um this is the first uh podcast that we're recording
after the end up with CharlieKirk and the moral service.
We need to recognize that as acountry, hopefully we maybe
turned a corner and I don'tknow.
(02:11):
Uh I think um it was a heal itwas a change moment for the
country, and hopefully we'reheaded in the same direction Um
pray for uh his family.
SPEAKER_05 (02:34):
And I think the um actually a couple of points that
I want to go on.
We we've had a podcast before umback when mental illness, and
this is kind of a mental illnessthing with the crazy lunatic who
shot him, but the youth ofAmerica, the young people of
America, and that's how you knowI'm old is I'm saying the youth
(02:56):
of America are in a they're kindof in the in the midst of of the
changing AI world and thecomputer world and not having as
much human interaction as we didwhen we were kids.
And um they kind of got leftbehind with that and with this
movement Charlie Kurt is notsomebody I really delved into
(03:18):
before the assassination.
I have watched I have watched alot of his um bed when he could
have.
Um and he's engaged the youngpeople because he is he was a
young person, and two thingsthat I've kind of forgotten
about even.
(03:39):
Those two words put those twowords together and you you got
something.
Another thing I heard was sayingwhat you mean without being me.
And um those two things havestuck with me.
That that ceremony that happenedSunday was I I listened to a
good bit of it, I I went on likea little cover of the weekend
(04:03):
and I'm like on that um throughYouTube or whatever whatever I
was listening to it on.
And it and then just watchingsome of it as I when I got back
home, it was amazing.
But I I'm hoping we have turneda corner, but it's gonna be that
next generation that I think alittle bit older people.
(04:24):
I think we're a little bit stuckin our ways and and I I hope
some of the older people areturned a corner.
But I think it's gonna be theyounger people that this
resonates with more hopefullythat makes our world a better
better world.
SPEAKER_06 (04:41):
We have several callers calling in on the city
of mine asking you to findyounger people and older people.
SPEAKER_05 (04:47):
Well, I am I am thirty-eight years old, so
obviously I thought it wasthirty nine.
I can't keep track of thesebirthdays reoccurred so often
and so many years umconsecutively.
SPEAKER_08 (05:03):
But they have a way of doing that.
SPEAKER_05 (05:06):
Yeah, so to define it, teenagers and people in
their early twenties, andanybody who wants to take that
message and as a as a positiveand what he's accomplished as a
positive.
Um, but it's probably gonna bethe teenagers and the um the the
people in their twenties.
I think we're a little bit stuckin our ways.
(05:26):
And it's hard it's harder for usto change as we get older.
Um not impossi that impossible.
SPEAKER_08 (05:33):
No, yeah, that's a fact.
Not impossible.
SPEAKER_05 (05:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_08 (05:40):
Many different things come into play there.
SPEAKER_05 (05:42):
I think we get locked in and entrenched in what
we think is the right thing, andsometimes we impose that a
little bit too much on otherpeople.
So I think it's gonna be the thethe younger people and that's
that's my perception of itanyway, and that's my hope.
(06:03):
JJ, what did what did you thinkabout it?
SPEAKER_07 (06:07):
Okay, so twenty thousand listeners.
So let me just share with all ofyou West and April already know
that I studied to be a Catholicpriest and because of my
background I really thought theservice was fantastic.
(06:32):
I know uh Charlie Kirk wasliving, he had twenty some
thousand chapters uh at the timeof his funeral uh in Arizona
with there was over a hundredthousand people trying to get
into the auditorium.
Uh he then had sixty seventhousand in that eight day span.
(06:56):
And this morning when I went onthe news, he had over a hundred
thousand chapters of TurningPoint USA on high school
campuses and college campuses.
The Vice President of the UnitedStates, J.
Ban, said it best that in thelast two weeks he spoke more
(07:21):
about God in his presentationsthan he's ever had in his life.
Today, as we're recording thisepisode, three people were
killed in testimony.
And the man who led off thepresentation for the newscast
said, Let's bow our head and saya prayer.
(07:44):
That never happened before.
And all of a sudden now they'rehaving prayer.
I myself thought Rubio, theSecretary of State, did a
phenomenal job because he hetalked about our Lord Tucker
Carlson did a great job withoutnotes.
(08:05):
None of these men had notes.
The people from Turning Pointthat were very, very close to
Charlie had to have notes.
When I spoke at my brother'sfuneral, I had to have notes
because you're so close to him.
And I think the big thing thatErica Charlie Kirk, Charlie
(08:27):
Kirk's wife, who was MissArizona, who I believe has the
most beautiful eyes in the worldshe has a degree from Notre
Dame, a master's degree, adoctorate degree from
Hillsdale's College.
And I want you all to know thatwhen she forgave this guy now
(08:53):
I'm gonna tell you, Wes andApril and our twenty thousand
listeners and our guest who'sgonna be on right after our
messages I'm gonna tell all ofyou that on the cross Jesus
accepted the forgiveness of thepeople that were betraying him
(09:16):
and crucified him.
And I want you to know when sheforgave this young man it was
phenomenal.
I myself, as a good Christianand like I say I'm a Christian,
I I don't know if I couldforgive him.
It's very, very hard.
SPEAKER_05 (09:38):
I will tell you that that speech was heartbreaking
and heart mending all at thesame time.
SPEAKER_07 (09:47):
Yeah.
But I I thoroughly enjoy workingwith you guys.
I thoroughly enjoy working inthe town of the government.
I thoroughly enjoy writing forthe magazines in the past and
writing for presently theprofessional magazine.
(10:09):
But I'm gonna tell all of ourlisteners I think the time of
forgiveness, a little bit ofgrace of of just listen to the
other person.
Do what Charlie Kirk did.
Charlie Kirk had two ears andone mouth.
He did twice the amount oflistening that he did speaking.
And we need to be a little bitmore forgiving of some of our
(10:32):
brothers in the towing andrecovery industry.
And one man said to me, Are youin towing and recovery?
And I said, Well, I've beenassociated with them now for
over 40 years, and I think theworld of these people, they're
independent owners, and a lot ofthem don't have education, but
they have one thing they havestreet smarts, and they're
(10:55):
wonderful, wonderful people.
They'll give their shirt offtheir back, and the charities
that code and recovery peoplehave done in this country are
phenomenal.
So I think we should just havemore grace, more forgiveness,
and I too agree with April andWest.
I hope that Turning Point USAcontinues to grow.
(11:19):
Tucker Carlson, as of thismorning, he's going out on
college tours, and Megan Kellyis going out on college tours
along with Mrs.
Kirk, uh, you know, Erica.
So that's my input, West, inApril.
And uh we'll go from there.
(11:39):
You you got it from the uhformer guy who's coming to me.
SPEAKER_06 (11:46):
Well we hope it's a you know country and we continue
to move forward.
SPEAKER_07 (11:52):
So depending on how close to when this podcast
drops, you're listening to it.
Probably you're listening to itright away.
SPEAKER_06 (12:01):
You're probably on your way to the Chattanooga
show.
SPEAKER_07 (12:07):
We're gonna be there uh on October 9th and 10th for a
two-day heavy duty class.
The following weekend we'll bein uh Kansas City.
Um one day late duty on Octoberthe 16th.
(12:29):
Two-day heavy duty October 17thand 18th.
SPEAKER_06 (12:33):
Following weekend we'll be at Waffle Telling.
That's an advanced level class.
Um that's October 25th and 26th.
SPEAKER_05 (12:46):
That's an advanced level heavy duty class, correct?
SPEAKER_06 (12:49):
Yes.
Also be in Enterprise Alabama,November 7th for light duty, 8th
and 9th for heavy duty.
SPEAKER_07 (13:00):
This and all your train training information go to
www.amto sign up.org.
That's amto.
A M Toe sign up.
Wait a minute.
(13:21):
AM Toe Sign Up O R G.
Yes.
Listeners hang around.
We got a great interview comingup.
We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_00 (15:30):
We also offer the National Tower Operator
Certification, an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric, and alternative fuel
vehicles.
SPEAKER_07 (15:43):
Welcome back, listeners.
You know you're listening to theAmerican Tow and Recovery
Institute podcast with WesWilburn, April Wilburn, DJ
Harrington, the Soat Doctor.
I wanted to tell all of you, weare available every week.
Make sure you download andlisten.
We're available on Spotify,iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, The
(16:09):
Big Guy, iHeartMedia, Amazon, orwherever you get your podcast.
So without further ado, bring itback to April Luther.
SPEAKER_05 (16:21):
TJ, thank you for that uh very hearty uh
introduction.
We would like to welcome backMichael Lard with COVID forever.
Michael, introduce yourself.
You've been on our podcastbefore, but just in case we have
a new listener or two uh thathasn't heard us before or heard
of you, which is kind of hard toimagine, wouldn't you uh give us
(16:42):
a little brief intro intoyourself?
SPEAKER_01 (16:44):
Uh my name is uh Mike Lard.
I'm from Oak Hart, Indiana.
I own and operate Tom's 24-HourTime Incorporated.
Um third generation um in thisbusiness.
Um I worked for my boss forabout six years until he retired
and took over about four and ahalf years ago, and um just
(17:05):
enjoy being on the podcast andhelping West with the training
world as well.
SPEAKER_07 (17:11):
Michael definitely stepped up over the last few
years, hosted classes, and thecompany that he took over uh 30
years ago was instrumental inhelping bring education to that
part of the state of the countryand that part of the state of
Indiana.
So we're definitely appreciativeof the long-term relationship.
(17:32):
So uh we did a class there acouple a couple weeks ago now.
Uh tell us a little bit aboutthe class.
I know one of the things is theprofessional classroom that was
provided.
SPEAKER_01 (17:45):
Uh yeah, Oslo Fire, they're always, you know, give
us welcoming arms when we askfor their training room.
Um it's secluded from everyoneelse.
Um they got um a kitchen net forus and stuff to eat lunch at,
um, the equipment that's neededfor you know the projector
screens and um the seating andeverything.
They like I said it's uh it'stop notch, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_08 (18:10):
Yeah, oh it is.
SPEAKER_07 (18:11):
I you know obviously I do saw the hand screen the way
that I just computer.
And uh any of the audio visualand stuff, they have their IT
guys helping uh get hooked upand just a first class
operation.
We're super appreciative ofthat.
SPEAKER_05 (18:30):
And it also shows what a great partnership we
could have with the um the towerand the fire could have with
each other too, and work likethat together.
SPEAKER_01 (18:41):
Yes, which is very important in my opinion.
SPEAKER_05 (18:44):
It's crit it's it's it's we don't understand that
sometimes, but it's it'scritical.
You know, it they help you outwith the classroom, um, and then
when you guys are on the side ofthe road and there's a handoff
between what they've done andthen what you do, it can make it
just so much more mainstream,it's so much more professional
(19:05):
and and under the circumstancesstill pleasant.
So the classroom was great.
Um, you guys had the IT peoplethere to help with with what you
did and how with and wasprofessional.
So that was phase one of that.
SPEAKER_07 (19:23):
The students have said well.
SPEAKER_05 (19:25):
Right.
SPEAKER_06 (19:26):
So you and then have so sponsored lunch.
No, I I thought he was askingyou, sorry.
SPEAKER_05 (19:39):
No, no.
SPEAKER_01 (19:42):
Yeah, so uh Saturday um we uh sponsored the lunch for
the guys, and uh uh Sunday TruesTowing sponsored lunch.
Um and then each morning uh wesponsored Dunkin' Donuts and
Coffee for everybody.
And then when we're at the endof the class, we uh kept
everybody hydrated with waterand Gatorade and whatnot.
SPEAKER_05 (20:04):
And then as far as truth towing, they've always uh
worked well with us too with thetraining, and I think they've
partnered with you um from timeto time too, haven't they?
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Yes, we we work pretty close with each other.
Um we're we're about 45 minutesto an hour away from each other
between offices, but uh a lot ofour customers, you know, cross
paths and intermingle, andthere's you know what I mean, we
have that relationship where we,you know what I mean, it's still
business, but we're stillfriends and we're able to work
(20:33):
with each other and do what'sright for you know the modern
public.
SPEAKER_05 (20:37):
And that's a good situation to be in too because
oftentimes when you're thatclose together, that's that's
always the case.
You you see the you see thebigger picture with having
having your friend in the nexttown or two over that sometimes
they it could actually help youout.
SPEAKER_01 (20:53):
Exactly, because it I don't I don't care how big you
are, you're you're s there'sgonna become a day or you know,
many days in your lifetime thatyou don't have the manpower
equipment and you got people totake care of.
So you g you gotta it don'tmatter if it's tony or in your
personal life, you're gonna havepeople to lean on.
SPEAKER_05 (21:11):
And that works both ways because I'm sure they also
have um have the opportunity tolean on one of you guys as well.
SPEAKER_01 (21:19):
Exactly.
You know, anything personal thatever goes on or you know,
whatever comes up, I always geta text from Travis or Rob that,
you know, if we need anybody tocome down and help or cover
while we're doing a Christmasparty, or you know what I mean?
They're it's always back andforth.
We always offer to help eachother.
SPEAKER_07 (21:38):
Yeah, that's a relationship that's been going
on for decades, and it really issuper healthy for both sides as
far as what I witness.
SPEAKER_01 (21:46):
Yes, yep.
Um Rob and uh Trev Rob True andMike Don Sulovic, you know, they
had the same relationship aswell.
SPEAKER_05 (21:57):
And you care and you carried that on, um which was
easier easier for you to domaybe because you had worked for
Mike Don Sulovic for for thoseyears and and watched that
happen and seen that happen.
You had some good examples.
SPEAKER_06 (22:12):
Exactly.
unknown (22:13):
Yep.
SPEAKER_05 (22:19):
So as far as um as far as the training goes, um
meeting for the class that washeld at your plane.
Um what is your input and whatis your input into that?
What what what did you take awayfrom that?
(22:41):
Your biggest highlight of that?
SPEAKER_01 (22:44):
Um training it, training it um at all excites
me.
I mean I love to see people, uh,men and women getting involved
in um trying to grow in thisindustry and not just doing it
the fly by the seat of yourpants uh kind of ways, but um it
was it was a great class.
There was there wasn't a lot ofpeople there, but you know, in a
(23:06):
way that's almost bettersometimes because we need more
hands-on.
But it uh it was a great classfrom um from the classroom out
to the hands-on.
One of our local uh excavationcompanies offered one of their
gravel pits up to us, and wewere able to um do the light and
medium heavy-duty um rollovers,you know, down an embankment
(23:28):
with uh you know weeds that arefour or five foot tall.
You know, you got the fullexperience that you don't get
when you're you know just doingrecoveries and in a parking lot
in some training classes.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
I was gonna say I thought I thought it was a great
uh hands-on experience, andeverybody was end up and trying
to help and rig and askingquestions, and and Jay Two did a
great job at you know answeringquestions and helping people
too.com at 910-747-9000.
(25:41):
That's 910-747-9000.
We look forward to serving you.
Welcome back, listeners.
SPEAKER_07 (25:49):
You are listening to the number one podcast in the
tow and recovery industry.
It's on the towing news channel,but this is the American Town
Recovery Institute podcast, WesWilburn and April Wilburn, and
DJ Harrington, the Toad Doctor.
I want to remind all of you.
I can't thank you enough.
20,000 listeners and growing upto 21,000.
(26:13):
This is just it's it'sbreathtaking that enough of you
have been kind enough.
But I want to remind you, justlike Wes did in the first
segment, remember to like,review, and share everywhere.
Share with your friends so thatyou can hear another industry
expert like Michael from Tom's24-hour going.
(26:36):
Remember to like and review.
And if you want to hear somebodylike Michael, by all means dial
our hotline number here at thepodcast center, 706-409-5603,
and tell Wes and April who you'dlike to hear, and we'll do our
best to get them on the nextpodcast.
(26:57):
So without further ado, April,I'll turn it back over to you.
SPEAKER_05 (27:02):
Thank you, DJ, very much for that.
Uh, Michael, I think um I'vedone this with Wes for about 14
years as far as like being inthe business, coming with them a
little bit, seeing seeing theactual impact it makes when uh a
student one day show up and theythey they get that first that
(27:22):
first tissue that they see thatsays, oh, okay, this is what I'm
here for.
I admire the personal choicethat a student makes at
attending their class.
Number one for the class of theclass or the travel expense, and
then also the time.
You you spend sixty, eight hoursa week at your job, or if you're
(27:43):
an owner at your business, andthen you decide to spend two
days to sit in a class.
And I just think that that needsto be mentioned, talked about
maybe even expanded a license.
You were at a point in timewhere you were just uh an
individual sitting in a class.
What was your course class like?
SPEAKER_01 (28:03):
Um it was uh it was mind opening.
Um, like I said before, you youyou know, you get into it and
other companies that you know,there's companies that do train,
there's companies that don't.
And um it's nice to actuallyunderstand what you're doing as
well as you know knowing how todo it.
And that's that was what hooksme on it is you know, I mean,
(28:27):
getting that solid evidence ofwhat's going to work and how you
should do things.
SPEAKER_05 (28:32):
And sometimes I think it's validate, something
that you've already simulated,and then I think positive
sometimes it says, um maybe Ishould be doing it this way
instead.
Do you have any examples ofthat?
SPEAKER_01 (28:46):
Yeah, um my approach to that is um you can you can be
taught a million ways to dosomething, but there's always
another way to do it.
And there's um you can alwayslearn from other people no
matter how long you've beendoing it or your business
background or you know how longyour family's been doing it.
(29:08):
There's always things to learnin life.
SPEAKER_05 (29:11):
And and then at these classes where you usually
have like a mixed amount ofpeople coming from different
places too, sometimes you wouldalso spend a class with the
other students, um, pick up pickup a tidbit or two as well.
SPEAKER_01 (29:27):
Yeah, the camaraderie is always good too,
because you know, we'll be shownsomething, or guy will guys will
point out, well, we've done itlike this and the reason why,
and it's it's it's like I said,it's it's nice to see things
from a different point of view.
SPEAKER_05 (29:43):
Different points of view are a very vital, vital
thing, and if we're able toactually do that in other
aspects of life, then I thinkthat we're just ahead of the
game.
SPEAKER_06 (29:54):
I I strongly agree.
Five plus five equals set.
ten, so does eight plus two.
That's correct.
SPEAKER_04 (30:05):
DJ.
SPEAKER_06 (30:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:07):
You I know have you ever been to any of us in
training?
SPEAKER_07 (30:10):
I know not that oh yes.
And th that's the reason why Iasked Mike who were Michael
about who was in attendance.
Listening to the people uhMichael for me he could read the
phone book and I'd listen to himbecause he has such a great
(30:33):
presence.
But I I know for a fact what hejust said, I hope everybody
wrote it down.
Dr.
Wayne Dyer probably said it thebest between all three of us me
and Mike and Michael and Weschange the way you look at
things and the things you lookat will change.
(30:56):
And by Michael sharing that wesee somebody do a presentation
and we pick up so many tips.
I've gone to Tim's trainingthree different times and
Michael I have got something outof it all three times.
It has been phenomenal.
(31:18):
And what you experienced thispast weekend there are guys that
come over to you and they saythank you from the bottom of
their heart because they knowbecause of the training that
your company provided and yourfriends provided and Wes and PD,
you know, did all this trainingthey are safer today when they
(31:43):
work the white line.
They are better operators theyare better mothers and fathers.
They are just better in theindustry because they attended
the class and they pick up tipsevery time just like you said
every time you go you pick upanother tip that you learnt from
another guy who may be aseasonal guy you know and I know
(32:06):
they learned from you so Ithought it was excellent.
SPEAKER_06 (32:10):
So Michael uh we're seeing that some in some areas
of genuine trends that folksdon't want to invest in right
duty operators.
SPEAKER_08 (32:23):
You're someone that definitely invests in all the
operators at your operation youwant to talk a little bit about
that why why you feel that'simportant?
SPEAKER_01 (32:33):
Yeah um to me I I think it should start from like
anything else and you know fromthe bottom up you don't learn to
run before you can walk and Idon't uh I don't think a guy
should you know come into theindustry and go straight to a
rotator from the things youlearn in the light duty class
the map the rigging um yourangles everything else it's all
(32:55):
the same whether it's from aflatbed to a rotator um all the
all the the weight changes theobjects change but it's all the
same principles in theorythere's a little bit more
advanced things when you getinto the bigger stuff but you
have to start at the bottom andwork your way up in my opinion
to be the best operator you canbe and I strongly support um
(33:19):
training the the light duty sideof things um and I honestly
prefer to have somebody greenwalk through the door that's
never had any training or beenin the industry period than have
somebody that's got a lot of badhabits if you want to put it
yeah that's the mindset of manyI um definitely depending on
(33:44):
their background uh will youthere's some knowledge of
mechanics have a little umknowledge of trucks no telling
experience can be beneficialmany I probably just feel that
way.
SPEAKER_05 (34:02):
Michael what you talked about before as far as
like um getting somebody that'sgreen is better than maybe
having somebody who hasexperience the bad habits to try
to break and a the bad habits oftrying to break uh that could
take so much effort because itthey may not under actually
understand that they're notdoing it the correct way or the
(34:24):
right way because it stillworks, you know whatever they
did, whatever bad habit theyjust did, didn't nothing happen,
no calamity happened.
There was nothing that happenedthat was no thing and over the
shortcut.
There will be a time hopefullyhopefully not a time but there
may be a time in the future thatthat backfires and then just
trying to victim of that habitmaybe green is a brand new
(34:49):
operator coming is a better ideathan um someone who's got
experience.
SPEAKER_06 (34:55):
Yeah I I I agree I agree with that 110%.
SPEAKER_05 (35:00):
Having somebody with good experience though that that
wants to come one and that isstill a little bit teachable, a
little bit pliable is not bad.
That would that would actuallybe a benefit.
Yes that's sometimes hard that'ssometimes hard to know.
SPEAKER_01 (35:15):
Yeah and that's what I mean it it all boils down to
um you know the old saying ifyou think you know it all I'm
gonna go stand over here becauseyou're about to kill somebody.
SPEAKER_05 (35:25):
I've heard Wes say that nobody's confidence
classes.
He said let me get my body outof the way.
unknown (35:31):
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (35:33):
And that's one thing that I pride um like Wes was
saying you know going back intime with Mike Donselovic is
that's that's the way he waswhen I came to work for him.
He had years you know threetimes experience that I did you
know because of the ages youknow that we were he was in the
60s and I was in my 30s and uhbut he always had the attitude
(35:58):
that he could learn from me andhe could teach me things and
that's that's the way theindustry needs to be.
Just because you own the placedoesn't mean you think of
everything you know everythingor you know I mean you have the
best way to do so.
You have to keep an open mind.
SPEAKER_06 (36:15):
You want to tell us about training and what your
family feels about it.
SPEAKER_07 (36:22):
My brother has an answer.
My brother says if you thinkit's expensive to train your
people and have them leave trynot training your people and
have them stay I've heard thatone before too and I'm gonna
(36:42):
tell you Michael my brotherhires a lot of guys out of the
military for he has a very largeconstruction company in New
Jersey and every six monthsCaterpillar has a class that he
will send two to three peopleevery time and if you don't do
(37:07):
well the first time you go againso he'll take these military
people that have drove tractorsand all these power equipment in
the military he hires them hesends them to Caterpillar and he
says to me DJ to me it's aninvestment because they come
(37:29):
back they don't lose a finger ora thumb because of some
stupidity that they do and thatway my medical bills stay down
it's an investment and a lot ofthe people that I send to the
school they think back on theirway home from the school and
said if Mr Harrington thinksthis much of me to invest in me
(37:54):
I'll stay with him and he keepspeople that some of them were
gonna quit but because heinvested in their training they
actually stay with them.
So it proves that learning hasso much to do with this and um
(38:15):
and he always refers to it as aninvestment.
He invests in his people justlike you invest in your people
and when people say you knowHarrington construction in New
Jersey it's like Tom's 24 hoursit's you're so well thought of
that it comes naturally and whenmy brother you know his sons now
(38:38):
because my brother's in heavenbut when his sons are out there
all they have to say is I'm withHarrington Construction they
don't say I'm John Harrington orBilly Harrington.
They just said I'm withHarrington Construction and they
say oh what a fantastic companywhen I talked to Tunnel to
Towers they said are you relatedto Harrington Construction?
(39:00):
I said yes I am I'm related tohim they said oh what a
fantastic company it's becausehe educates and invests in his
people so Michael when I wentwith Wes and Ron Moore was there
and there were so manyfirefighters that were on the
(39:24):
property and I sat off on theside and Wes was worried about
me because I was in between mywalker and my rollator I was
trying to sit down so Wes saidtold me sit in his truck I sat
in his truck and a firefightersat next to me in the truck they
get a break and I said how's thetraining and the firefighter
(39:49):
said I've never learned thismuch in this short a period of
time we should be workingtogether.
It was so nice that thisfirefighter believed in
cross-training and he said I'velearned so much from West and
from the people here it wasphenomenal and I did the same
(40:14):
and I wrote an article inAmerican Tony magazine called
the golden hour that we had toget them out of the vehicle
within an hour to the table inthe hospital to save their lives
so it was from the to keep themstable till we get them to the
(40:34):
table that was the article but Ilearned that by listening to Wes
and Ron Moore do a firefightergroup along with firefighters.
They were doing cross trainingthat day I want to thank our
guests today Michael thank youfor taking time out of your busy
(40:54):
April DJ great job as alwaysappreciate our listeners look
forward to seeing everybody uhat Tennessee if you're going and
if not be safe out there untilnext week.
SPEAKER_08 (41:09):
Thanks for listening
You're on the train to success with April and Wes
Wilburn.
I'm DJ Harrington, the co-host,better known as the Toad Doctor.
We're all on our way to the townof proper towing and recovery,
along with our producer ChuckCamp in the studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
(00:26):
You could have done this.
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests.
So if you have Spotify, iTunes,Pandora, Stitcher, iArt Media,
or the number one podcast, ormaybe Amazon, or wherever you
(00:49):
get your podcast, turn in onWednesday and be turned on all
week long.
If you are a State Associationand watch your announcements or
upcoming State Association news,or maybe a co-show that's coming
up, let us know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
(01:15):
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the American Dome
Recovery Institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April andMiss.
Thank you, DJ.
As always, I appreciate yourkind words.
Appreciate you being here today.
(01:35):
Yeah, of course we appreciateall the fans.
Can't believe we have 20,000 uhsubscribers.
SPEAKER_06 (01:42):
If you haven't subscribed to us, please hit
that subscribe button.
We really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_08 (01:50):
Um this is the first uh podcast that we're recording
after the end up with CharlieKirk and the moral service.
We need to recognize that as acountry, hopefully we maybe
turned a corner and I don'tknow.
(02:11):
Uh I think um it was a heal itwas a change moment for the
country, and hopefully we'reheaded in the same direction Um
pray for uh his family.
SPEAKER_05 (02:34):
And I think the um actually a couple of points that
I want to go on.
We we've had a podcast before umback when mental illness, and
this is kind of a mental illnessthing with the crazy lunatic who
shot him, but the youth ofAmerica, the young people of
America, and that's how you knowI'm old is I'm saying the youth
(02:56):
of America are in a they're kindof in the in the midst of of the
changing AI world and thecomputer world and not having as
much human interaction as we didwhen we were kids.
And um they kind of got leftbehind with that and with this
movement Charlie Kurt is notsomebody I really delved into
(03:18):
before the assassination.
I have watched I have watched alot of his um bed when he could
have.
Um and he's engaged the youngpeople because he is he was a
young person, and two thingsthat I've kind of forgotten
about even.
(03:39):
Those two words put those twowords together and you you got
something.
Another thing I heard was sayingwhat you mean without being me.
And um those two things havestuck with me.
That that ceremony that happenedSunday was I I listened to a
good bit of it, I I went on likea little cover of the weekend
(04:03):
and I'm like on that um throughYouTube or whatever whatever I
was listening to it on.
And it and then just watchingsome of it as I when I got back
home, it was amazing.
But I I'm hoping we have turneda corner, but it's gonna be that
next generation that I think alittle bit older people.
(04:24):
I think we're a little bit stuckin our ways and and I I hope
some of the older people areturned a corner.
But I think it's gonna be theyounger people that this
resonates with more hopefullythat makes our world a better
better world.
SPEAKER_06 (04:41):
We have several callers calling in on the city
of mine asking you to findyounger people and older people.
SPEAKER_05 (04:47):
Well, I am I am thirty-eight years old, so
obviously I thought it wasthirty nine.
I can't keep track of thesebirthdays reoccurred so often
and so many years umconsecutively.
SPEAKER_08 (05:03):
But they have a way of doing that.
SPEAKER_05 (05:06):
Yeah, so to define it, teenagers and people in
their early twenties, andanybody who wants to take that
message and as a as a positiveand what he's accomplished as a
positive.
Um, but it's probably gonna bethe teenagers and the um the the
people in their twenties.
I think we're a little bit stuckin our ways.
(05:26):
And it's hard it's harder for usto change as we get older.
Um not impossi that impossible.
SPEAKER_08 (05:33):
No, yeah, that's a fact.
Not impossible.
SPEAKER_05 (05:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_08 (05:40):
Many different things come into play there.
SPEAKER_05 (05:42):
I think we get locked in and entrenched in what
we think is the right thing, andsometimes we impose that a
little bit too much on otherpeople.
So I think it's gonna be the thethe younger people and that's
that's my perception of itanyway, and that's my hope.
(06:03):
JJ, what did what did you thinkabout it?
SPEAKER_07 (06:07):
Okay, so twenty thousand listeners.
So let me just share with all ofyou West and April already know
that I studied to be a Catholicpriest and because of my
background I really thought theservice was fantastic.
(06:32):
I know uh Charlie Kirk wasliving, he had twenty some
thousand chapters uh at the timeof his funeral uh in Arizona
with there was over a hundredthousand people trying to get
into the auditorium.
Uh he then had sixty seventhousand in that eight day span.
(06:56):
And this morning when I went onthe news, he had over a hundred
thousand chapters of TurningPoint USA on high school
campuses and college campuses.
The Vice President of the UnitedStates, J.
Ban, said it best that in thelast two weeks he spoke more
(07:21):
about God in his presentationsthan he's ever had in his life.
Today, as we're recording thisepisode, three people were
killed in testimony.
And the man who led off thepresentation for the newscast
said, Let's bow our head and saya prayer.
(07:44):
That never happened before.
And all of a sudden now they'rehaving prayer.
I myself thought Rubio, theSecretary of State, did a
phenomenal job because he hetalked about our Lord Tucker
Carlson did a great job withoutnotes.
(08:05):
None of these men had notes.
The people from Turning Pointthat were very, very close to
Charlie had to have notes.
When I spoke at my brother'sfuneral, I had to have notes
because you're so close to him.
And I think the big thing thatErica Charlie Kirk, Charlie
(08:27):
Kirk's wife, who was MissArizona, who I believe has the
most beautiful eyes in the worldshe has a degree from Notre
Dame, a master's degree, adoctorate degree from
Hillsdale's College.
And I want you all to know thatwhen she forgave this guy now
(08:53):
I'm gonna tell you, Wes andApril and our twenty thousand
listeners and our guest who'sgonna be on right after our
messages I'm gonna tell all ofyou that on the cross Jesus
accepted the forgiveness of thepeople that were betraying him
(09:16):
and crucified him.
And I want you to know when sheforgave this young man it was
phenomenal.
I myself, as a good Christianand like I say I'm a Christian,
I I don't know if I couldforgive him.
It's very, very hard.
SPEAKER_05 (09:38):
I will tell you that that speech was heartbreaking
and heart mending all at thesame time.
SPEAKER_07 (09:47):
Yeah.
But I I thoroughly enjoy workingwith you guys.
I thoroughly enjoy working inthe town of the government.
I thoroughly enjoy writing forthe magazines in the past and
writing for presently theprofessional magazine.
(10:09):
But I'm gonna tell all of ourlisteners I think the time of
forgiveness, a little bit ofgrace of of just listen to the
other person.
Do what Charlie Kirk did.
Charlie Kirk had two ears andone mouth.
He did twice the amount oflistening that he did speaking.
And we need to be a little bitmore forgiving of some of our
(10:32):
brothers in the towing andrecovery industry.
And one man said to me, Are youin towing and recovery?
And I said, Well, I've beenassociated with them now for
over 40 years, and I think theworld of these people, they're
independent owners, and a lot ofthem don't have education, but
they have one thing they havestreet smarts, and they're
(10:55):
wonderful, wonderful people.
They'll give their shirt offtheir back, and the charities
that code and recovery peoplehave done in this country are
phenomenal.
So I think we should just havemore grace, more forgiveness,
and I too agree with April andWest.
I hope that Turning Point USAcontinues to grow.
(11:19):
Tucker Carlson, as of thismorning, he's going out on
college tours, and Megan Kellyis going out on college tours
along with Mrs.
Kirk, uh, you know, Erica.
So that's my input, West, inApril.
And uh we'll go from there.
(11:39):
You you got it from the uhformer guy who's coming to me.
SPEAKER_06 (11:46):
Well we hope it's a you know country and we continue
to move forward.
SPEAKER_07 (11:52):
So depending on how close to when this podcast
drops, you're listening to it.
Probably you're listening to itright away.
SPEAKER_06 (12:01):
You're probably on your way to the Chattanooga
show.
SPEAKER_07 (12:07):
We're gonna be there uh on October 9th and 10th for a
two-day heavy duty class.
The following weekend we'll bein uh Kansas City.
Um one day late duty on Octoberthe 16th.
(12:29):
Two-day heavy duty October 17thand 18th.
SPEAKER_06 (12:33):
Following weekend we'll be at Waffle Telling.
That's an advanced level class.
Um that's October 25th and 26th.
SPEAKER_05 (12:46):
That's an advanced level heavy duty class, correct?
SPEAKER_06 (12:49):
Yes.
Also be in Enterprise Alabama,November 7th for light duty, 8th
and 9th for heavy duty.
SPEAKER_07 (13:00):
This and all your train training information go to
www.amto sign up.org.
That's amto.
A M Toe sign up.
Wait a minute.
(13:21):
AM Toe Sign Up O R G.
Yes.
Listeners hang around.
We got a great interview comingup.
We'll be right back.
SPEAKER_00 (15:30):
We also offer the National Tower Operator
Certification, an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric, and alternative fuel
vehicles.
SPEAKER_07 (15:43):
Welcome back, listeners.
You know you're listening to theAmerican Tow and Recovery
Institute podcast with WesWilburn, April Wilburn, DJ
Harrington, the Soat Doctor.
I wanted to tell all of you, weare available every week.
Make sure you download andlisten.
We're available on Spotify,iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, The
(16:09):
Big Guy, iHeartMedia, Amazon, orwherever you get your podcast.
So without further ado, bring itback to April Luther.
SPEAKER_05 (16:21):
TJ, thank you for that uh very hearty uh
introduction.
We would like to welcome backMichael Lard with COVID forever.
Michael, introduce yourself.
You've been on our podcastbefore, but just in case we have
a new listener or two uh thathasn't heard us before or heard
of you, which is kind of hard toimagine, wouldn't you uh give us
(16:42):
a little brief intro intoyourself?
SPEAKER_01 (16:44):
Uh my name is uh Mike Lard.
I'm from Oak Hart, Indiana.
I own and operate Tom's 24-HourTime Incorporated.
Um third generation um in thisbusiness.
Um I worked for my boss forabout six years until he retired
and took over about four and ahalf years ago, and um just
(17:05):
enjoy being on the podcast andhelping West with the training
world as well.
SPEAKER_07 (17:11):
Michael definitely stepped up over the last few
years, hosted classes, and thecompany that he took over uh 30
years ago was instrumental inhelping bring education to that
part of the state of the countryand that part of the state of
Indiana.
So we're definitely appreciativeof the long-term relationship.
(17:32):
So uh we did a class there acouple a couple weeks ago now.
Uh tell us a little bit aboutthe class.
I know one of the things is theprofessional classroom that was
provided.
SPEAKER_01 (17:45):
Uh yeah, Oslo Fire, they're always, you know, give
us welcoming arms when we askfor their training room.
Um it's secluded from everyoneelse.
Um they got um a kitchen net forus and stuff to eat lunch at,
um, the equipment that's neededfor you know the projector
screens and um the seating andeverything.
They like I said it's uh it'stop notch, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_08 (18:10):
Yeah, oh it is.
SPEAKER_07 (18:11):
I you know obviously I do saw the hand screen the way
that I just computer.
And uh any of the audio visualand stuff, they have their IT
guys helping uh get hooked upand just a first class
operation.
We're super appreciative ofthat.
SPEAKER_05 (18:30):
And it also shows what a great partnership we
could have with the um the towerand the fire could have with
each other too, and work likethat together.
SPEAKER_01 (18:41):
Yes, which is very important in my opinion.
SPEAKER_05 (18:44):
It's crit it's it's it's we don't understand that
sometimes, but it's it'scritical.
You know, it they help you outwith the classroom, um, and then
when you guys are on the side ofthe road and there's a handoff
between what they've done andthen what you do, it can make it
just so much more mainstream,it's so much more professional
(19:05):
and and under the circumstancesstill pleasant.
So the classroom was great.
Um, you guys had the IT peoplethere to help with with what you
did and how with and wasprofessional.
So that was phase one of that.
SPEAKER_07 (19:23):
The students have said well.
SPEAKER_05 (19:25):
Right.
SPEAKER_06 (19:26):
So you and then have so sponsored lunch.
No, I I thought he was askingyou, sorry.
SPEAKER_05 (19:39):
No, no.
SPEAKER_01 (19:42):
Yeah, so uh Saturday um we uh sponsored the lunch for
the guys, and uh uh Sunday TruesTowing sponsored lunch.
Um and then each morning uh wesponsored Dunkin' Donuts and
Coffee for everybody.
And then when we're at the endof the class, we uh kept
everybody hydrated with waterand Gatorade and whatnot.
SPEAKER_05 (20:04):
And then as far as truth towing, they've always uh
worked well with us too with thetraining, and I think they've
partnered with you um from timeto time too, haven't they?
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Yes, we we work pretty close with each other.
Um we're we're about 45 minutesto an hour away from each other
between offices, but uh a lot ofour customers, you know, cross
paths and intermingle, andthere's you know what I mean, we
have that relationship where we,you know what I mean, it's still
business, but we're stillfriends and we're able to work
(20:33):
with each other and do what'sright for you know the modern
public.
SPEAKER_05 (20:37):
And that's a good situation to be in too because
oftentimes when you're thatclose together, that's that's
always the case.
You you see the you see thebigger picture with having
having your friend in the nexttown or two over that sometimes
they it could actually help youout.
SPEAKER_01 (20:53):
Exactly, because it I don't I don't care how big you
are, you're you're s there'sgonna become a day or you know,
many days in your lifetime thatyou don't have the manpower
equipment and you got people totake care of.
So you g you gotta it don'tmatter if it's tony or in your
personal life, you're gonna havepeople to lean on.
SPEAKER_05 (21:11):
And that works both ways because I'm sure they also
have um have the opportunity tolean on one of you guys as well.
SPEAKER_01 (21:19):
Exactly.
You know, anything personal thatever goes on or you know,
whatever comes up, I always geta text from Travis or Rob that,
you know, if we need anybody tocome down and help or cover
while we're doing a Christmasparty, or you know what I mean?
They're it's always back andforth.
We always offer to help eachother.
SPEAKER_07 (21:38):
Yeah, that's a relationship that's been going
on for decades, and it really issuper healthy for both sides as
far as what I witness.
SPEAKER_01 (21:46):
Yes, yep.
Um Rob and uh Trev Rob True andMike Don Sulovic, you know, they
had the same relationship aswell.
SPEAKER_05 (21:57):
And you care and you carried that on, um which was
easier easier for you to domaybe because you had worked for
Mike Don Sulovic for for thoseyears and and watched that
happen and seen that happen.
You had some good examples.
SPEAKER_06 (22:12):
Exactly.
unknown (22:13):
Yep.
SPEAKER_05 (22:19):
So as far as um as far as the training goes, um
meeting for the class that washeld at your plane.
Um what is your input and whatis your input into that?
What what what did you take awayfrom that?
(22:41):
Your biggest highlight of that?
SPEAKER_01 (22:44):
Um training it, training it um at all excites
me.
I mean I love to see people, uh,men and women getting involved
in um trying to grow in thisindustry and not just doing it
the fly by the seat of yourpants uh kind of ways, but um it
was it was a great class.
There was there wasn't a lot ofpeople there, but you know, in a
(23:06):
way that's almost bettersometimes because we need more
hands-on.
But it uh it was a great classfrom um from the classroom out
to the hands-on.
One of our local uh excavationcompanies offered one of their
gravel pits up to us, and wewere able to um do the light and
medium heavy-duty um rollovers,you know, down an embankment
(23:28):
with uh you know weeds that arefour or five foot tall.
You know, you got the fullexperience that you don't get
when you're you know just doingrecoveries and in a parking lot
in some training classes.
SPEAKER_02 (23:40):
I was gonna say I thought I thought it was a great
uh hands-on experience, andeverybody was end up and trying
to help and rig and askingquestions, and and Jay Two did a
great job at you know answeringquestions and helping people
too.com at 910-747-9000.
(25:41):
That's 910-747-9000.
We look forward to serving you.
Welcome back, listeners.
SPEAKER_07 (25:49):
You are listening to the number one podcast in the
tow and recovery industry.
It's on the towing news channel,but this is the American Town
Recovery Institute podcast, WesWilburn and April Wilburn, and
DJ Harrington, the Toad Doctor.
I want to remind all of you.
I can't thank you enough.
20,000 listeners and growing upto 21,000.
(26:13):
This is just it's it'sbreathtaking that enough of you
have been kind enough.
But I want to remind you, justlike Wes did in the first
segment, remember to like,review, and share everywhere.
Share with your friends so thatyou can hear another industry
expert like Michael from Tom's24-hour going.
(26:36):
Remember to like and review.
And if you want to hear somebodylike Michael, by all means dial
our hotline number here at thepodcast center, 706-409-5603,
and tell Wes and April who you'dlike to hear, and we'll do our
best to get them on the nextpodcast.
(26:57):
So without further ado, April,I'll turn it back over to you.
SPEAKER_05 (27:02):
Thank you, DJ, very much for that.
Uh, Michael, I think um I'vedone this with Wes for about 14
years as far as like being inthe business, coming with them a
little bit, seeing seeing theactual impact it makes when uh a
student one day show up and theythey they get that first that
(27:22):
first tissue that they see thatsays, oh, okay, this is what I'm
here for.
I admire the personal choicethat a student makes at
attending their class.
Number one for the class of theclass or the travel expense, and
then also the time.
You you spend sixty, eight hoursa week at your job, or if you're
(27:43):
an owner at your business, andthen you decide to spend two
days to sit in a class.
And I just think that that needsto be mentioned, talked about
maybe even expanded a license.
You were at a point in timewhere you were just uh an
individual sitting in a class.
What was your course class like?
SPEAKER_01 (28:03):
Um it was uh it was mind opening.
Um, like I said before, you youyou know, you get into it and
other companies that you know,there's companies that do train,
there's companies that don't.
And um it's nice to actuallyunderstand what you're doing as
well as you know knowing how todo it.
And that's that was what hooksme on it is you know, I mean,
(28:27):
getting that solid evidence ofwhat's going to work and how you
should do things.
SPEAKER_05 (28:32):
And sometimes I think it's validate, something
that you've already simulated,and then I think positive
sometimes it says, um maybe Ishould be doing it this way
instead.
Do you have any examples ofthat?
SPEAKER_01 (28:46):
Yeah, um my approach to that is um you can you can be
taught a million ways to dosomething, but there's always
another way to do it.
And there's um you can alwayslearn from other people no
matter how long you've beendoing it or your business
background or you know how longyour family's been doing it.
(29:08):
There's always things to learnin life.
SPEAKER_05 (29:11):
And and then at these classes where you usually
have like a mixed amount ofpeople coming from different
places too, sometimes you wouldalso spend a class with the
other students, um, pick up pickup a tidbit or two as well.
SPEAKER_01 (29:27):
Yeah, the camaraderie is always good too,
because you know, we'll be shownsomething, or guy will guys will
point out, well, we've done itlike this and the reason why,
and it's it's it's like I said,it's it's nice to see things
from a different point of view.
SPEAKER_05 (29:43):
Different points of view are a very vital, vital
thing, and if we're able toactually do that in other
aspects of life, then I thinkthat we're just ahead of the
game.
SPEAKER_06 (29:54):
I I strongly agree.
Five plus five equals set.
ten, so does eight plus two.
That's correct.
SPEAKER_04 (30:05):
DJ.
SPEAKER_06 (30:06):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (30:07):
You I know have you ever been to any of us in
training?
SPEAKER_07 (30:10):
I know not that oh yes.
And th that's the reason why Iasked Mike who were Michael
about who was in attendance.
Listening to the people uhMichael for me he could read the
phone book and I'd listen to himbecause he has such a great
(30:33):
presence.
But I I know for a fact what hejust said, I hope everybody
wrote it down.
Dr.
Wayne Dyer probably said it thebest between all three of us me
and Mike and Michael and Weschange the way you look at
things and the things you lookat will change.
(30:56):
And by Michael sharing that wesee somebody do a presentation
and we pick up so many tips.
I've gone to Tim's trainingthree different times and
Michael I have got something outof it all three times.
It has been phenomenal.
(31:18):
And what you experienced thispast weekend there are guys that
come over to you and they saythank you from the bottom of
their heart because they knowbecause of the training that
your company provided and yourfriends provided and Wes and PD,
you know, did all this trainingthey are safer today when they
(31:43):
work the white line.
They are better operators theyare better mothers and fathers.
They are just better in theindustry because they attended
the class and they pick up tipsevery time just like you said
every time you go you pick upanother tip that you learnt from
another guy who may be aseasonal guy you know and I know
(32:06):
they learned from you so Ithought it was excellent.
SPEAKER_06 (32:10):
So Michael uh we're seeing that some in some areas
of genuine trends that folksdon't want to invest in right
duty operators.
SPEAKER_08 (32:23):
You're someone that definitely invests in all the
operators at your operation youwant to talk a little bit about
that why why you feel that'simportant?
SPEAKER_01 (32:33):
Yeah um to me I I think it should start from like
anything else and you know fromthe bottom up you don't learn to
run before you can walk and Idon't uh I don't think a guy
should you know come into theindustry and go straight to a
rotator from the things youlearn in the light duty class
the map the rigging um yourangles everything else it's all
(32:55):
the same whether it's from aflatbed to a rotator um all the
all the the weight changes theobjects change but it's all the
same principles in theorythere's a little bit more
advanced things when you getinto the bigger stuff but you
have to start at the bottom andwork your way up in my opinion
to be the best operator you canbe and I strongly support um
(33:19):
training the the light duty sideof things um and I honestly
prefer to have somebody greenwalk through the door that's
never had any training or beenin the industry period than have
somebody that's got a lot of badhabits if you want to put it
yeah that's the mindset of manyI um definitely depending on
(33:44):
their background uh will youthere's some knowledge of
mechanics have a little umknowledge of trucks no telling
experience can be beneficialmany I probably just feel that
way.
SPEAKER_05 (34:02):
Michael what you talked about before as far as
like um getting somebody that'sgreen is better than maybe
having somebody who hasexperience the bad habits to try
to break and a the bad habits oftrying to break uh that could
take so much effort because itthey may not under actually
understand that they're notdoing it the correct way or the
(34:24):
right way because it stillworks, you know whatever they
did, whatever bad habit theyjust did, didn't nothing happen,
no calamity happened.
There was nothing that happenedthat was no thing and over the
shortcut.
There will be a time hopefullyhopefully not a time but there
may be a time in the future thatthat backfires and then just
trying to victim of that habitmaybe green is a brand new
(34:49):
operator coming is a better ideathan um someone who's got
experience.
SPEAKER_06 (34:55):
Yeah I I I agree I agree with that 110%.
SPEAKER_05 (35:00):
Having somebody with good experience though that that
wants to come one and that isstill a little bit teachable, a
little bit pliable is not bad.
That would that would actuallybe a benefit.
Yes that's sometimes hard that'ssometimes hard to know.
SPEAKER_01 (35:15):
Yeah and that's what I mean it it all boils down to
um you know the old saying ifyou think you know it all I'm
gonna go stand over here becauseyou're about to kill somebody.
SPEAKER_05 (35:25):
I've heard Wes say that nobody's confidence
classes.
He said let me get my body outof the way.
unknown (35:31):
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (35:33):
And that's one thing that I pride um like Wes was
saying you know going back intime with Mike Donselovic is
that's that's the way he waswhen I came to work for him.
He had years you know threetimes experience that I did you
know because of the ages youknow that we were he was in the
60s and I was in my 30s and uhbut he always had the attitude
(35:58):
that he could learn from me andhe could teach me things and
that's that's the way theindustry needs to be.
Just because you own the placedoesn't mean you think of
everything you know everythingor you know I mean you have the
best way to do so.
You have to keep an open mind.
SPEAKER_06 (36:15):
You want to tell us about training and what your
family feels about it.
SPEAKER_07 (36:22):
My brother has an answer.
My brother says if you thinkit's expensive to train your
people and have them leave trynot training your people and
have them stay I've heard thatone before too and I'm gonna
(36:42):
tell you Michael my brotherhires a lot of guys out of the
military for he has a very largeconstruction company in New
Jersey and every six monthsCaterpillar has a class that he
will send two to three peopleevery time and if you don't do
(37:07):
well the first time you go againso he'll take these military
people that have drove tractorsand all these power equipment in
the military he hires them hesends them to Caterpillar and he
says to me DJ to me it's aninvestment because they come
(37:29):
back they don't lose a finger ora thumb because of some
stupidity that they do and thatway my medical bills stay down
it's an investment and a lot ofthe people that I send to the
school they think back on theirway home from the school and
said if Mr Harrington thinksthis much of me to invest in me
(37:54):
I'll stay with him and he keepspeople that some of them were
gonna quit but because heinvested in their training they
actually stay with them.
So it proves that learning hasso much to do with this and um
(38:15):
and he always refers to it as aninvestment.
He invests in his people justlike you invest in your people
and when people say you knowHarrington construction in New
Jersey it's like Tom's 24 hoursit's you're so well thought of
that it comes naturally and whenmy brother you know his sons now
(38:38):
because my brother's in heavenbut when his sons are out there
all they have to say is I'm withHarrington Construction they
don't say I'm John Harrington orBilly Harrington.
They just said I'm withHarrington Construction and they
say oh what a fantastic companywhen I talked to Tunnel to
Towers they said are you relatedto Harrington Construction?
(39:00):
I said yes I am I'm related tohim they said oh what a
fantastic company it's becausehe educates and invests in his
people so Michael when I wentwith Wes and Ron Moore was there
and there were so manyfirefighters that were on the
(39:24):
property and I sat off on theside and Wes was worried about
me because I was in between mywalker and my rollator I was
trying to sit down so Wes saidtold me sit in his truck I sat
in his truck and a firefightersat next to me in the truck they
get a break and I said how's thetraining and the firefighter
(39:49):
said I've never learned thismuch in this short a period of
time we should be workingtogether.
It was so nice that thisfirefighter believed in
cross-training and he said I'velearned so much from West and
from the people here it wasphenomenal and I did the same
(40:14):
and I wrote an article inAmerican Tony magazine called
the golden hour that we had toget them out of the vehicle
within an hour to the table inthe hospital to save their lives
so it was from the to keep themstable till we get them to the
(40:34):
table that was the article but Ilearned that by listening to Wes
and Ron Moore do a firefightergroup along with firefighters.
They were doing cross trainingthat day I want to thank our
guests today Michael thank youfor taking time out of your busy
(40:54):
April DJ great job as alwaysappreciate our listeners look
forward to seeing everybody uhat Tennessee if you're going and
if not be safe out there untilnext week.
SPEAKER_08 (41:09):
Thanks for listening
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