Tow Times Magazine

Spec’ing a Tow Truck for Repossession Work, Slide-In and Underbody Wheel-lifts, Crimes Committed Against Tow Operators and More

Editorial Staff — Fri, 08 May 2026 18:51:34 +0000

The Tow Times May issue features repossession topics that include suggested items to build a tow truck that’s repo-ready, and units that can transform a pickup into repossession truck. We also look at criminal activities that target tow operations — from theft, assaults, skipping out on tow bills and more. In our Recovery Review department, operators recover a 130-ton mobile crane in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Find all this and more in the Tow Times May issue.

Miller Industries Introduces the VLA Carrier for Low-Clearance Vehicles and Equipment Loading

Editorial Staff — Fri, 08 May 2026 18:13:53 +0000

Miller Industries has announced the VLA (Very Low Angle) carrier available from Century, Vulcan, and Chevron, engineered to simplify loading and transport of low-clearance vehicles and job-site equipment. The VLA’s twin-motor rack-and-pinion bed travel system allows the deck to roll nearly flat to the ground, delivering smooth, controlled loading with minimal approach height.

The new VLA features a 23-foot deck with a 6-degree load angle and a 10,000-lb. platform rating available in aluminum or steel for versatile, everyday transport. Standard equipment includes a 12,000-lb. winch, wheel-lift rated at 3,000 lbs. with 7,500-lbs. tow rating at full extension — all designed to balance capability with quick, intuitive operation.

“Our new VLA is all about confident loading with a fixed approach angle. Customers asked for a carrier that handles low-clearance vehicles without drama — so we engineered a 23-foot deck and rack-and-pinion bed system that delivers a true 6-degree load angle and everyday usability,” said Kipp Felice, Vice President of Marketing and Business Solutions at Miller Industries.

The VLA carrier is available to order now through Miller Industries’ authorized distributor network. For more information and to find the Miller Industries distributor closest to you, visit millerind.com.

Centennial Equipment Sales is Authorized NRC Distributor in Colorado

Editorial Staff — Fri, 01 May 2026 18:29:13 +0000

Centennial Equipment Sales is Colorado’s authorized NRC towing and recovery equipment distributor, offering a full range of new and used equipment — from light-duty units to heavy-duty wreckers. With a fully stocked parts department and expert installation and repair services, they provide complete support for your towing needs.

Centennial Equipment Sales is located at 1247 Factory Drive, Fort Lupton CO, 80621.

Phone: 303-305-1999

Visit www.centennialequip.com

Agero Completes Acquisition of Roadside Assistance Provider Urgently

Editorial Staff — Fri, 01 May 2026 18:01:19 +0000

Agero has officially completed its acquisition of Urgently, bringing together two leading roadside and mobility platforms to create a more connected, data-driven ecosystem.

The combined company now supports more than 150 million vehicles and 14 million annual service events across the U.S., using that scale to improve dispatch, arrival accuracy, and transparency for insurers, OEMs, fleets and mobility providers.

Read the full announcement here: https://blog.agero.com/why-agero-and-urgently-are-better-together.

Landoll Towing Museum Donation, Tools for Efficient Operation, Custom Tow Truck Builds, Vintage Towing Equipment, Winch Applications, Online Reputation Management and More

Editorial Staff — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:10:13 +0000

The Tow Times April issue spotlights Landoll Corporation’s donation of a special, one-of-a-kind lowboy trailer for the 2026 International Towing Museum Fundraising Auction, along with basic items that can make a tow operator’s job easier and more efficient, thoughts on custom tow truck builds, a look back at the long history of car carriers, winches on car carriers and conventional tow trucks, and why online reputation management is critically important in today’s digital world. In our Recovery Review department, operators use extreme care while uprighting a bulk truck and pup trailer loaded with a potentially explosive cargo. Find all this and more in the Tow Times April issue.

Truck Parking Club Surpasses 5,000 Locations

Editorial Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:34:40 +0000

Source: Truck Parking Club

Truck Parking Club has announced its network of reservable truck parking has surpassed 5,000 locations nationwide, reaching a critical scale as the U.S. continues to face a truck parking shortage that federal data links to hundreds of fatal crashes each year.

The company’s marketplace now offers more than 80,000 reservable truck parking spaces across 49 states, built not through new construction but by utilizing unused space on private property. These locations are made up of warehouses, trucking terminals, self storage facilities, truck repair shops and more.

Drivers from 93 of the top 100 fleets have parked at Truck Parking Club locations, helping 100,000’s of drivers get safely, legally and efficiently parked.

For more information about Truck Parking Club visit truckparkingclub.com

Survivor Fund Golf Classic Closest to the Pin Winner

Editorial Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:18:44 +0000

The Closest to the Pin competition sponsored by Miller Industries was back at this year’s Survivor Fund Golf Classic held on April 9, 2026, at Walt Disney World’s Palm Golf Course. This year’s winner was Scott Frerking of Transit Pros in Lee’s Summit, MO. He was also on the winning team of the Classic.

The Closest to the Pin winner wins a round of golf or a spa day, plus $5,000 will be donated to the Survivor Fund in the winner’s name, and an additional $5,000 will be donated to the Survivor Fund in the winner’s name courtesy of Marietta Wrecker of Marietta, GA.

I Like What I Do – Really!

Editorial Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:09:19 +0000

Most days, I really do like being a boss or “boss lady” of my towing company. The title boss lady is generally intended as a compliment signifying respect and recognition of a woman’s strength and confidence — someone who is in control, gets things done, is competent, and professional in her role.

Merriam-Webster’s definition of boss is: Being a boss means serving in a supervisory role, holding authority over a team, and taking responsibility for business outcomes. It involves delegating, decision-making, and often directing daily operations. A “boss” role ranges from managing employees and setting strategy to being “your own boss” (owning a business) or acting as a leader.

I think that being a boss tells me I am in control of my own circumstances, efficiently managing both my professional and personal life. I work hard to be a proactive leader for my company and employees and enjoy being an advocate in supporting women, especially in the towing industry, in this type of role.

Some people the term boss lady to be patronizing or condescending; thinking it reduces real authority to a cute label and is an unnecessary distinction of gender compared to just being called “boss,” which I totally understand.

I know it’s not always easy, but whether you find yourself being referred to as a boss or boss lady, be proud of the accomplishments you have made. You’ve earned it.

Fleetworthy and HAAS Alert Expand Partnership

Editorial Staff — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:01:04 +0000

PRNewswire press release:

Fleetworthy has announced an expanded partnership with HAAS Alert digital alerting for roadway safety.

Through enhanced integration with Fleetworthy, HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud^® platform will now broadcast real-time digital alerts to nearby motorists when a commercial truck equipped with Fleetworthy Safety+ is stopped in an unsafe location. In addition, Drivewyze Free, which is being rebranded as Fleetworthy Foundations as part of Fleetworthy’s ongoing brand unification, now delivers real-time alerts to truck drivers when approaching stopped fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles enabled with Safety Cloud.

Together, Fleetworthy and HAAS Alert are strengthening roadside safety by both alerting the motoring public when commercial vehicles are stopped and notifying professional drivers of emergency responders ahead. This bidirectional protection creates a connected safety ecosystem that links commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and public agencies in real time to help prevent potentially catastrophic collisions.

Stopped Commercial Truck Protection

Rear-end collisions involving heavy trucks are especially dangerous due to the significant mass disparity between commercial vehicles and passenger cars, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle. Roadside incidents remain among the most hazardous scenarios for both commercial drivers and first responders, particularly when visibility is limited or traffic conditions change rapidly.

When a truck equipped with Fleetworthy Safety+ stops on the shoulder of an interstate or major highway due to an inspection, mechanical issues, or other unplanned roadside events, Safety Cloud PROTECTautomatically detects the vehicle. It then sends real-time digital alerts to approaching motorists via their connected vehicle systems in select Jeep, Dodge, RAM, Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo models and through navigation apps such as Waze and Apple Maps.

Since Safety Cloud alerts extend beyond line of sight, they reach approaching drivers around curves, over hills, and in low-visibility conditions, providing additional reaction time that can help reduce the likelihood of high-speed rear-end collisions and secondary crashes.

“Fleet safety means protecting drivers not only while they’re moving, but during their most vulnerable roadside moments,” said Martin Murtland, VP of Product at Fleetworthy. “By deepening our integration with HAAS Alert, we’re extending digital protection beyond the cab and into the broader driving public, helping truckers reduce risk and proactively prevent severe crashes.”

Free Emergency Vehicle Alerts for Fleetworthy Foundations Users

As part of the expanded partnership with HAAS Alert, Fleetworthy Foundations users will now receive real-time alerts for stopped emergency vehicles, powered by Safety Cloud ALERT. When fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles on Safety Cloud activate their service lights, Fleetworthy-enabled trucks receive in-cab digital alerts warning them of responders ahead. The alerts provide advance notice before emergency scenes become visible, helping drivers comply with Move Over laws and safely adjust speed or change lanes when conditions allow.

The emergency vehicle alerts are currently available along interstate highways in approximately one-third of U.S. states, with nationwide coverage anticipated later this year.

“Digital alerting closes the gap between what drivers can see and what they need to know,” said Jeremy Agulnek, Chief Product Officer at HAAS Alert. “By further integrating Safety Cloud ALERT and Safety Cloud PROTECT with Fleetworthy’s platform, we’re delivering real-time visibility that protects professional drivers, first responders, and the motoring public during some of the most dangerous roadside moments.”

States may also expand their alert coverage through Fleetworthy Smart Roadways to alert commercial drivers about additional roadside responders on Safety Cloud, such as tow trucks, roadside assistance vehicles, construction crews, and utility workers, extending digital Move Over protections to additional vulnerable roadside personnel.

International Towing Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Class, Marking 40th Year of Honors

Editorial Staff — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:29:54 +0000

The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (ITRHFM) is honored to announce the nine inductees for its Hall of Fame Class of 2026, marking the 40th class to be recognized. Representing five U.S. states and Mexico, the inductees will be honored during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 17, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“The towing industry is truly blessed with outstanding individuals who have invested years donating their time and resources to better the industry for all,” said Bill Gratzianna, president of the Towing Museum. “This year’s class exemplifies the spirit of sharing—of knowledge, resources and experience—to help raise the bar.”

The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees are:

Enrique Dueñas Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico — A third-generation towing professional, Dueñas Rodríguez has spent more than 50 years building and professionalizing the towing and recovery industry across Mexico and Latin America. Operating Grúas y Servicios Dueñas in Mexico City, he continued the legacy of his father, a 1988 Hall of Fame inductee. He became one of the most active association leaders in the international towing community, helping establish professional standards across an entire continent through cross-border relationship building and sustained organizational leadership.

John H. Gardner, Gilbert, SC — A 53-year veteran of the towing and recovery industry, Gardner is a South Carolina Air National Guard veteran who began his career as a dispatcher for the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He founded American Wrecker Sales in 1983 after acquiring the Century Wrecker distributorship. Gardner is credited with developing the first Towed Vehicle Inspection Report for local police departments—a form still in use today. He is also known for his longstanding generosity, including more than 20 years of youth baseball sponsorship and quietly supporting employees and community members in need.

Bob Huffman, Sanford, FL — Huffman dedicated 35 years at AAA to strengthening relationships between the nation’s largest roadside assistance organization and towing professionals. As Director of Roadside Programs and Benefits, he served as AAA’s ambassador for Slow Down, Move Over awareness, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the ITRHFM Survivor Fund. He also serves on committees evaluating Survivor Fund requests and Wall of the Fallen nominations, while personally assisting families after the loss of a loved one. Huffman has greatly increased the organization’s advocacy for industry-wide safety reforms.

James “Jim” Jennings Jr., Coral Springs, FL — A second-generation towing professional with 59 years of continuous family involvement in the industry, Jennings served as president of Emerald Transportation Corp. prior to the company being acquired by Guardian Fleet Services. Emerald Transportation Corp. has supported the Florida Highway Patrol since 1964. He founded Towers with a Heart, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds Move Over safety campaigns across Florida. Jennings co-founded the Sunshine State Towing Association, currently serves as TRAA vice president, and has served for approximately 10 years on the ITRHFM Board of Directors. He was named Tow Times Industry Champion in 2019.

Irvin Johns (posthumous), Louisville, KY — Johns, who passed away in 2024, founded Suburban Wrecker Service in 1969 with a single used truck and grew it into Kentucky’s largest towing company, with more than 100 trucks and 80-plus employees. He led the 2nd Street Bridge recovery in 2024, which garnered national news coverage. Johns was also an accomplished NHRA drag racer, becoming the oldest national event winner in NHRA history and earning induction into the NHRA North Central Division Hall of Fame in 2025.

Martin D. Peacock, Americus, GA — Representing the third generation of a family towing business established in 1928, Peacock continues one of the longest-running towing legacies in the United States. He played a key role in founding the Georgia Towing Association and later helped merge organizations to form the Towing & Recovery Association of Georgia (TRAG). He also assisted in forming a towing association in South Carolina and served through the full leadership arc in the Capital City Towing Association, ultimately becoming Chair Emeritus.

Jeff Poquette, Union City, GA — With more than 30 years as an industry consultant and advocate, Poquette has helped shape training standards, safety practices and professional development across the towing industry. He launched one of the industry’s first podcasts in 2018, sharing insights with thousands of towing professionals. He remains active in multiple state associations and continues to advocate for training and education.

Lee Roberts, Paris, KY — Roberts built Roberts Heavy Duty Towing from one truck into a major operation with 66 trucks and 82 employees, bringing international experience from his early career in the United Kingdom. He has served on the ITRHFM Board of Directors, chaired TowCap, and held leadership roles in the Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky. In 2016, after a competitor lost his business in a fire, Roberts donated a truck and provided office space to help him rebuild—an act widely recognized in local media. Roberts was the first towing company recognized by The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety for outstanding highway safety efforts.

Shannon Douglas Yates, Chattanooga, TN — A third-generation Hall of Fame inductee, Yates has operated Yates Towing & Recovery in Chattanooga for 38 years. He has held leadership roles in the Tennessee Tow Truck Association and maintained active TRAA membership. Yates has also supported the museum for many years, often donating his time and resources. His community engagement reflects the same values that earned his grandfather and father their places in the Hall of Fame: that the towing profession is about more than moving vehicles — it is about serving people.

The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1986 to recognize outstanding individuals in the towing and recovery industry and to record and preserve its history. Learn more at towingmuseum.com.