In this episode of the Tow Business Podcast, we explore the unique challenges faced by the towing industry during the holiday season, sharing personal stories and insights. I discuss my struggles with managing health insurance for our employees amidst rising costs and the significance of providing meaningful benefits. We delve into the legislation affecting the industry, highlighting our advocacy efforts in response to the FTC's junk fee rule and the need for ongoing vigilance. The conversation shifts to uplifting anecdotes from the towing community, emphasizing the positive impact we can have. We also address practical issues such as chargebacks and security measures to protect our businesses. Lastly, I invite listeners to engage in community initiatives and advocacy as we prepare for the new year with more valuable discussions. Chapters 0:24 Introduction to Tow Business Podcast 0:48 Holiday Reflections 4:14 Insurance Woes 7:48 Employee Benefits and Expectations 13:19 Password Management Frustrations 17:12 Apologies and Health Updates 19:36 Positive Towing Stories 23:44 Promoting Positive News 27:27 Handling Workplace Issues 31:44 FTC Junk Fee Rule Update 34:43 Building Industry Relationships 39:23 Legislative Wins and Challenges 43:04 The Complexity of Towing Contracts 48:02 Technology Innovations in Towing 49:47 Accountability in Vehicle Maintenance 52:18 Equipment Management Strategies 57:48 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes Miller Industries Traxero Harbinger Marketing
Chapters 0:25 Introduction to Tow Business Podcast 0:50 Opening Dialog 8:01 Remembering Irvin Johns 9:39 Traxero's 2024 State of Towing Report 46:57 Marketing Opportunities for Towing Businesses 1:04:53 Conclusion and Acknowledgments **Tow Business Podcast**: Your Ultimate Source for Towing Industry Insights In this episode, titled "Show 133," co-hosts Jeff and Brad share their thoughts and experiences related to the towing industry, while diving deep into the recently released 2024 State of Towing Annual Report by Traxero. As the longest-running podcast in the towing industry, the Tow Business Podcast aims to deliver crucial information and news to help listeners grow their businesses while promoting professionalism within the field. The episode opens with a conversation highlighting the cold Ohio winter and the anticipation of the upcoming Christmas party organized by Jeff’s company. They discuss the logistics and challenges of hosting a holiday gathering, all while keeping a light-hearted banter that draws listeners in. Brad shares a fun weekend adventure spent at Wind Rock Off Road Park, showcasing the camaraderie between the hosts and how they balance their professional lives with personal interests. As the episode transitions, they pay homage to Irvin Johns, the owner of Suburban Towing who recently passed away. Jeff recounts his memorable interactions with Irvin and how he contributed to the towing industry through innovative practices and exceptional service. The hosts remind listeners of the importance of respecting those who have positively impacted the community. The conversation then shifts to the core topic of the episode—the Traxero 2024 State of Towing Annual Report. Jeff and Brad provide insights from the report, which was collected from a significant number of towing professionals across the United States and Canada. Listeners are encouraged to download and read the report for a comprehensive understanding of its findings, which include data about company sizes, employee statistics, insurance challenges, and insights into operational efficiencies. One key finding discussed is the overwhelming challenge of increasing insurance costs faced by the majority of towers, with 67% of respondents indicating it as their top concern for 2024. The hosts candidly explore the ramifications of this issue on their businesses and emphasize the necessity for effective safety protocols to manage risk. The podcast further discusses the importance of seizing cash calls and growing commercial accounts, as well as optimizing impound operations. The hosts talk about the overlooked potential of impound yards and the importance of maximizing profit from this segment of the business. Hiring and retaining staff remains a pressing challenge within the industry, with various anecdotes illustrating the difficulties associated with finding reliable employees. Jeff and Brad also touch upon the critical role of marketing amid rising competition and economic challenges. They express concern over the lack of investment in marketing efforts by many towing companies, highlighting how this can hinder growth and customer acquisition. The conversation transitions into practical marketing strategies that can help businesses increase their digital presence and effectively capture cash call opportunities. As the episode wraps up, Jeff and Brad summarize various pivotal aspects of the report, reinforcing the idea that adapting business strategies in response to market data is essential for growth. They encourage listeners to remain informed and proactive in an ever-evolving industry landscape, voicing gratitude toward Traxero for producing such significant research and insights. Join Jeff and Brad on this engaging episode of the Tow Business Podcast for a detailed exploration of current challenges and opportunities in the towing industry, as well as valuable advice on enhancing business practices. Be sure to listen, subscribe, and share your thoughts with the hosts for future show ideas! Miller industries Traxero Harbinger Marketing
In this episode of the Tow Business Podcast, I team up with co-host Brad to explore the challenges in the towing industry, focusing on leadership and professional growth. We discuss the importance of mentorship for aspiring leaders, the lack of initiative among some employees, and the need to foster accountability within our teams. We also cover effective communication between management and operators, the complexities of safety bonus programs, and the risks of 1099 employment. I encourage listeners to strive for excellence and embrace their leadership responsibilities, aiming to cultivate a new generation of leaders in the towing industry. Show Partners: Miller Industries Traxero Harbinger Marketing
Unfortunately, there are many topics we feel need to be revisited time and time again. These are a few of those topics. Chapters 0:24 Welcome to Tow Business Podcast 0:51 Season 18 Begins 8:24 Mountain Biking in Bentonville 8:41 Innovations in Towing Equipment 15:24 The Challenges of Starting a Towing Business 32:40 Tackling Towing Scams 34:14 The Importance of Marketing 34:23 Investing in Employee Training 50:05 Rigging Inspections and Safety 59:50 Reflections on Podcasting and Collaboration
I stumbled across a few towing news websites I hadn't seen before. Without surprise, the majority of stories were negative but we found one good story about a tower in Georgia. We discuss some of the tops stories we found on these Geocities era websites. Miller Industries Traxero Harbinger Marketing HAAS Alert Safety Cloud ERSCA
We talk about the greatest scandal to ever rock the towing industry and several other hot, current tow topics. Tesla Truck Crash and fire A 5 state SDMO blitz nabs 1130 violators Massachusetts truck regulation madness Mandatory, non-existent tow training in Ottawa Thank our Show Sponsors: Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Safety Cloud Harbinger Marketing
The title says it all. We as an industry have been labeled predators. If you start peeling the layers of that onion off how can we be predators? Why are police departments calling predators to the scene of a wreck? They aren't, they are calling professionals to provide necessary services. Thankfully The National open Commerce and Safer Highways Coalition is a group that's finally fighting back for us and they need your help. Visit https://www.nocshc.com/ to get the truth. If someone tries to bad mouth or start a rumor about that hard working group call out the person telling it. Ask them what they have done to help our industry. Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Harbinger Marketing ERSCA
David Harbin with Harbinger Marketing joins us to discuss creating and maintaining a solid, effective marketing program for your towing company regardless of size. It's no longer a matter of giving your company a name that starts with A so you are first in the phonebook. Our customers come from different places now and digital marketing is how you reach them. Traxero Miller Industries Harbinger Marketing HAAS Alert Safety Cloud ERSCA
There may be a new twist to your competition trying to get you to run a fake call at your expense. Are you thinking of adding an outside salesperson? How do you pay them and when is a new customer actually a new customer? We also have a few more problems invoices to talk about. Keep them coming to jeff@southsidewreckers.com
There's a new scam popping up among the bad players in our industry. We explain how it happens and why these dirty towers must be stopped. We also discuss the new tactics some Canadian towers are using to greatly increase their odds of being paid for recovery work as heard on episode 139 of The Towing Life Podcast. Finally, we discuss those special employees who think they are too good to be terminated and why do co-workers only come to complain about them after they are gone. millerind.com harbingermarketing.com traxero.com hassalert.com ersca.com
Our industry is under attack by a well-funded, well-organized group using the FTC and FMCSA to accomplish their goals. Unfortunately, it seems that most U.S. towers are still unaware. The National Open Commerce and Safer Highways Coalition needs your support! Please visit www.nocshc.com for accurate, up-to-date information. Please consider a one-time or recurring donation so that they can represent our proud industry in Washington D.C. The coalition is already starting to tackle the issue of low policy limits and non-payment of recoveries. They are fighting for you, will you help spread the word and donate? Imagine if every tow operator in America donated only $5.00. millerind.com harbingermarketing.com traxero.com haasalert.com ersca.org
Brad goes to the Florida show and Buc-ees has everything! Also, the over-the-phone Tow Scam strikes again.
We discuss some current topics going on in Towing News. If you own a Freightliner M2 make sure you listen until the end. Traxero.com Millerind.com ERSCA.org Haasalert.com https://harbingermarketing.com/
Traxero's products help glue the business side of our industry together by offering several pieces of software, services, and hardware that integrate in a way we've never before seen. Dispatching software, payment systems, GPS, dashcams, auctions, and more. Whether you're using a pen and paper wondering if it's time to go digital or a 20-year veteran of digital dispatching wondering if there is a better way, give them a call. This episode discusses many of the integrated solutions they offer and how to receive additional information about them. We also talk a bit about how their podcast Traxero-On-The Go comes together. Our guests on this episode are: Jillian Grassetti - Senior VP, Sales & Marketing Laura Dolan - Senior Content Director Shelli Hawkins - Director of Market Engagement traxero.com Traxero On-The-Go Podcast Show Partners: Miller Industries TRAXERO HAAS Alert Safety Cloud Emergency Road Service Coalition of America ERSCA
Recently the FTC and FMCSA announced new rules that would adversely affect the Towing Industry and those who supply and support the industry. Luckily, a large group of towers from around the nation worked tirelessly to create a new Coalition not only to fight against these new proposed rules but to combat the negative stereotypes and misunderstanding of the costs and challenges we face while trying to keep America's roads and commerce flowing. NOCSHC isn't simply talking about doing something about it, they are doing something about it. They already have D.C. lobbyists and two D.C. law firms who specialize in the FTC Rulemaking process on the ground and digging in. The coalition is here to fight for every tower in the United States but they need your help. Please check out NOCSHC.com and their Facebook page National Open Commerce and Safer Highways Coalition to learn how you can help and donate. Thanks to our Show Partners Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Safety Cloud Emergency Road Service Coalition of America ERSCA
There is a war being waged against the towing industry by insurance companies and trucking companies simply trying to improve their bottom line. We all know there are bad actors within the towing industry but they are few and far between. We are all currently being accused of being that small group and people are manipulating the data in an attempt to crush our industry so they can increase their profits. This episode is a must-listen for every tower in the United States. We told you this was coming and now it's here. This is going to be a difficult, very expensive battle that's going to require our entire industry to stand together. Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Safety Cloud ERSCA.org
A listener sent us a great email asking us follow-up questions about previous shows. We chose several of his questions to respond to. Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Safety Cloud ERSCA
ERSCA.org Training, Standard Duty Heavy Duty, EV Winching & Rigging Online & in person
A major auto club has come out in support of Congestion Charges. We also discuss the Not So Crazy TRIP Invoice that is in the news and try to provide some insight to the costs of participating in the TRIP Program.
Are you tired of your boss not buying the latest greatest tow gadgets? Maybe it's time to realize the benefits of investing in yourself and paying your own way on the path to success. Applying for a job? Be careful how you do it. Put some thought into your words and tone while applying digitally. There's trouble brewing for towers in Massachusetts if they charge admin fees as a percentage. Miller Industries Traxero HAAS Alert Safety Cloud ERSCA
Linda Scott
Really enjoyed the cast guys! A wealth of insight and knowledge into current trends and future possible realisms with MC's and Tow apps. Good thought points that I as an owner need to start focusing on. 5 stars from Tow n Go in Lewisville, Texas