American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
Each week Wes Wilburn talks about the towing industry. In every episode Wes talks about the important events and latest information. Keep up to date with the latest training and speaking engagements throughout the country.
Episodes
What does it take to transform an entire industry through education? For Wes Wilburn, approaching his 1,000th towing and recovery training class, the answer lies in a philosophy borrowed from DJ Harrington C A N I – constant and never-ending improvement.
Since 1993, Wes has dedicated his life to elevating the towing profession through education that goes far beyond technical skills. As he shares his journey with hosts DJ H...
Discover the revolutionary approach that's transforming the towing industry as Megan Bruns, Marketing Director at Cardinal Legacy Towing Group, shares how putting people first has created an empire of 200+ vehicles and happy, committed employees.
The cornerstone of their success? Treating tow operators as the first responders they truly are. While many towing companies struggle with employee retention and satisfaction...
Michael Lard brings a refreshing perspective to the towing industry as he shares his journey from growing up in a towing family to owning Tom's 24-Hour Towing in Elkhart, Indiana. This third-generation tower has transformed his operation into a 16-truck fleet equipped with specialized machinery for handling complex recoveries.
What truly stands out in our conversation is Michael's innovative approach to rigging t...
When the towing and trucking industries seem locked in an endless cycle of misunderstanding and tension, one Kentucky couple has found a remarkable way to change the conversation – by taking their 50-ton rotator to major truck shows across America.
Clifton and Joyce Parsley of Crossroads Towing are on a mission to transform how the trucking community views the towing industry. What began as simply displaying their wrecker ...
When Briar Roberts started reading towing-themed books to his young children, something unexpected happened – he got mad. As an experienced tow truck operator, the technical inaccuracies in these stories were glaring. Hooks attached to plastic bumpers? Cables through windows? This wasn't the profession he knew and loved.
What began as bedtime frustration transformed into inspiration when his wife suggested a simple so...
The mental health crisis claiming America's youth has reached epidemic proportions, and it's happening in families from all backgrounds. Our recent podcast delves into this growing tragedy that's claiming lives through addiction, overdoses, and suicide at an alarming rate.
We explore how even "good families" with strong support systems are losing young people to these devastating outcomes. The conv...
What happens when an outsider questions everything about how the towing industry has "always done things"? You get revolutionary ideas like the Price Per Pound recovery pricing system. Norman "Stormin'" Horton joins the podcast to share how he transformed recovery pricing over 30 years ago with a concept that remains relevant—and controversial—today.
Norman walks us through his journey from garage ...
Imagine a towing world where recovery equipment is 85% lighter yet stronger than traditional steel cables, and where safety hazards like deadly cable recoil become a thing of the past. That future is already here, as this eye-opening conversation with Johnny Sun and Adam Osterloo from Tow Tools reveals.
Johnny's journey into the towing equipment industry began with a story straight out of a thriller novel—being monito...
When safety laws exist but aren't enforced, what's the real value of having them? This pressing question emerges during our enlightening conversation with Jared Varnado, fourth-generation tower and president of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Louisiana.
The harsh reality facing roadside workers becomes clear as Jared reveals disturbing statistics – only 56 Move Over citations issued in his area this year...
"The impression you leave on people is far more important than what you get from them." This powerful philosophy, passed down from father to son, forms the bedrock of Jim's Towing success story. In this inaugural episode of our multi-generational towing family series, we're joined by Jim Conroy and his son William, representing the second and third generations of their family business.
From their humble...
Pat Winer's journey through the towing industry reveals a career marked by innovation, service, and an unwavering commitment to community. From his humble beginnings in the paint department at Challenger Wrecker Manufacturer in the early 1980s, Pat shares the fascinating evolution of his career alongside the technological advancements that have shaped modern towing.
Working under industry pioneer Bill Bottoms at Chall...
The dangers facing tow truck operators and the evolving strategies to protect them take center stage in this eye-opening episode of Towing News. We explore multiple tragic incidents, including a Kentucky case where a truck driver has been indicted for murder after allegedly watching YouTube videos before fatally striking tow operator Troy Caldwell. The driver now faces serious charges including evidence tampering and has a warrant ...
The multi-generational heartbeat of the towing industry comes alive as John Beauman Jr, Third-generation owner of Beauman's Garage in Lockport, NY, shares his family's remarkable 75-year journey in towing. Born into the business that his grandfather started in 1950, John embodies the deep connection many have to this profession – it's not just work, but a complete way of life.
As First Vice President of the ...
The towing industry landscape is changing dramatically, and we're at the forefront of this transformation. In this revealing conversation, we announce the groundbreaking merger between Cardinal Legacy Towing Group and the American Towing Recovery Institute (ATRI), creating a powerful new force in towing education and operations.
Kurtis Barks, the visionary behind Cardinal Legacy Group, shares his journey from automoti...
Roadside dangers take center stage in this sobering exploration of the hazards facing tow truck operators worldwide. The deadly toll becomes immediately apparent as we uncover the shocking pattern of violence in Durban, South Africa, where three drivers have been killed in suspected drive-by shootings this year alone, highlighting an alarming trend that authorities have yet to address effectively.
The regulatory landscape ...
Veteran tower Jared Innis pulls back the curtain on the economic realities of the towing industry in this eye-opening conversation about survival in a challenging business landscape. With 31 years of experience and as president of the Missouri Tow Truck Association, Ennis offers a frank assessment of the issues threatening towing companies across America.
The financial mathematics of towing simply don't add up for man...
Tragedy struck the towing industry multiple times in recent weeks as three tow operators lost their lives while performing roadside assistance. These deaths underscore the critical importance of Move Over laws that many drivers continue to ignore despite the fatal consequences.
From the heartbreaking stories of Ken Sopasto in Florida and Richard Rodriguez in New York—both killed while working roadside—to the harrowing acco...
Wes Wilburn welcomes listeners to a deeply meaningful episode featuring a crucial conversation with Matt Milazzo, senior manager at the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Born and raised in Staten Island with a family dedicated to public service, Matt shares how the foundation's mission to eradicate veteran homelessness resonates with his personal values and professional aspirations.
The heart of this episode centers on the...
When a tow truck driver's head gets run over during a routine repossession, it highlights the extreme dangers towing professionals face daily. Our latest episode dives into this shocking incident and several other headline-grabbing stories affecting the towing community nationwide.
We examine the case of an Alabama ex-officer charged with murder after a fatal shooting during a truck repossession, a Montana towing comp...
Every day, towing professionals face evolving challenges that demand awareness, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to safety. This episode of the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast delivers crucial industry updates that impact everyone from owner-operators to fleet managers.
Breaking news from Kenworth reveals the planned discontinuation of their iconic 1.9-meter cab Class 8 trucks—including the legendary W900...
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