Running HaRd Running HaRd - Jerr-Dan

VOLUME 16, NUMBER 1 | March 2007
www.jerr-dan.com
An Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company
For the hard-working towing professional
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20-21
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our magazine is still
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making great even For the HARD-WORKING Towing professional
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W
here has the time gone?
is the focus for this issue on Page 14-15.
• International Review.
It’s been two years since we
revamped and reworked
Jerr-Dan equipment isn’t limited to the
Run Hard magazine (formerly Carriers &
United States. In fact, there are Jerr-Dan
Wreckers) to give it a refreshing
wreckers and carriers all over North
new look and even more hard-hitting
America. This new section will spotlight
editorial. We’ve received a lot of positive
those international applications.
• Running Hard. Showcase your
feedback these past two years and we
thank you for all your suggestions.
rig in action in the new Running Hard
In an effort to
section of the
meet your needs,
magazine. A sister
Do you want to see your rig
we have added
section to the popuin
Run
Hard
magazine?
a few sections to
lar Show & Go
this year’s editofeature, Running
E-mail us at
rial lineup.
Hard is a place
[email protected]
• Q & A.
to spotlight your
This is your
Jerr-Dan equipment
opportunity to ask questions about your
doing what it does best: work.
Jerr-Dan equipment — how it’s made,
As an extra bonus, for every submiswhy it’s made that way, etc. Check out
sion we receive for the Show & Go and
Page 22 to see the questions we’ve
Running Hard sections, your name will
received the most this past year. Do you
be entered into a drawing for an allhave a question of your own? E-mail us
expenses paid trip for two to the Texas
at [email protected]!
Motor Speedway in November 2007!
• Distributor Profiles. Your
See Pages 20-21 for details.
Jerr-Dan Distributor partners with you.
In addition to these new sections in
In addition to offering you advice and
Run Hard, you’ll continue to see your
spec’ing information before the sale, they
favorite articles about how other towing
also offer you service long after the sale.
professionals like you are meeting busiWe feel it’s important to recognize our
ness challenges common to the industry.
Distributors so we’ve created a section to
You’ll also learn more about valuable
do just that.
business man• Manufacturing. All phases of
agement topics
the Jerr-Dan manufacturing process take
like soliciting new
part in a state-of-the-art facility. If you
accounts (Page
haven’t yet taken a tour, we invite you
12) and selecting
to do so this year. We’re happy to have
your heavy duty
you! In the magazine this year, we
(Page 8).
are focusing on several key areas of
Jerr-Dan manufacturing: engineering,
Jeff Weller, President
facility, processes and people. The latter
www.jerr-dan.com
Contents
4
6
Company news
7
international review
8
Jerr-dan
owner profile
The weather in Denver can be unpredictable, but the towing services provided by John’s Towing are always reliable.
12 jack’s Viewpoint
Steer clear of the ratings game.
14
16 18
business management
Soliciting new accounts — think BIG.
manufacturing
At Jerr-Dan it starts and ends with people.
JerR-dan owner profile
This New Jersey tower grows his family
towing business the old-fashioned way
— one truck at a time.
distributor profile
Summit Truck Equipment
Eastern Wrecker Sales
20 show & go/Running hard
22
Q&A
Our Mission
To provide you with timely information
about towing and recovery equipment
technology, products and safety.
“Since 1992”
Run Hard is published on behalf of Jerr-Dan Corporation, an
Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company, and Jerr-Dan Distributors.
Editorial office: 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803.
Phone: (800) 547-7377. E-mail: [email protected].
Printed in the United States, © 2007 Jerr-Dan Corporation
Volume 16, Number 1, March 2007. For Canada: Agreement
Number 40064547.
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Owner Profile
Honestyis the
best policy
The weather in Denver can
be unpredictable, but the towing
Owner Profile
services provided by John’s Towing
John’s Towing Service
are always reliable.
I
n recent months, the Denver
area has seen its share of winter
weather. Unpredictable weather
is a part of living in the vicinity of
the Colorado mountains. And for
those at John’s Towing in Denver,
it’s all in a days work.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a
blizzard or a sunny day, we are
always open and towing . . . and
we charge the same rates, no
matter what the weather,” explains
Ron Pietrafeso, general manager
of John’s Towing Service. Pietrafeso
is married to joint owner Adrienne
Pietrafeso (see caption with
photo below.)
Trudy Mazzo, center, and her late husband James
bought John’s Towing more than 25 years ago.
Today the company is owned by Trudy and her
daughters, Vicki Simmons, left, and Adrienne
Pietrafeso, right. All three remain involved in the
business to this day.
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March 2007
Aurora, Colorado
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Charging a fair price and true
24-hour service has earned John’s
Towing a reputation as one of
the area’s most reliable towing
companies. John’s Towing Service
was purchased by Trudy and James
Mazzo in 1980 as an addition to
the auto repair business they started
in 1968. It has evolved into a thriving 24-employee-staffed full-service
towing company.
The golden rule
The key to growth, according
to Mazzo, is simple — honesty.
“My late husband was a
perfectionist and very honest,” she
recalls. “From the beginning, if he
didn’t think a vehicle was worth the
cost to fix, he’d tell the customer.
I didn’t understand why he turned
away business, but I learned. If you
are honest with people, they will
remember and come back. And they
did — for repair work and for towing. We have customers today that
we’ve had for 25 years.”
That honest, hard-working
attitude was passed on by Trudy
and James to their daughters, Vicki
Simmons and Adrienne Pietrafeso.
James passed away unexpectedly
in 1985 and the three women have
Carriers:
Loading a truck onto a 21-ft. steel Jerr-Dan carrier
in snowy conditions is a breeze for 35-year- experienced-towing-veteran David Echelberger.
been running the collision repair
shop and towing company ever
since. (All participated in running
the business before his passing.)
“It was challenging,” says
Pietrafeso, “because James was a
very hands-on man.” However, the
family perservered and today you’ll
see the company’s 15 Jerr-Dan
carriers performing towing jobs
all around the Denver metro area.
The company typically tows
within a 50-mile radius of Denver;
however long-distance tows through
the mountains are not uncommon.
Call volume averages about 1,500
tows a month. The full-service repair
shop has become its own separate
company; John’s Towing focuses strictly on light- and medium-duty towing.
The right choices
John’s Towing relies exclusively
on Jerr-Dan for its carriers. It standardizes on 21-ft. steel diamondplated rollback beds.
James bought the first Jerr-Dan
back in 1983, and Ron Pietrafeso has
carried on that purchase decision.
“We’ve had other carriers over
the years,” says Pietrafeso. “Several
years ago I decided to switch exclusively to Jerr-Dan because I was
unhappy with the mechanical problems of those other carriers. Today,
our Jerr-Dan carriers are virtually
maintenance free. We haven’t experienced any mechanical problems.”
Pietrafeso joined John’s Towing
seven years ago after selling his
auto dealerships. He now serves
as the company’s general manager.
Another standardization
Pietrafeso brought to the towing
equipment is quad cab chassis. “We
found that drivers were picking up
entire families when they went on a
tow. Old conventional flatbeds with
a one-cab seat weren’t cutting it.
We now standardize on quad cabs
with two seats that can carry up to
six passengers.”
Air brakes are also a must.
“Our mountain driving requires
more than mechanical hydraulic
brakes,” Pietrafeso notes.
People first
Putting people first is another
aspect of John’s Towing that’s been
carried on throughout the years.
From customers to employees,
people really do come first.
Drivers, for example, are
paid on a commission basis. Trucks
are assigned to drivers and when
they aren’t towing, drivers are
encouraged to go home.
“We’ve found that if they go
home during downtime, versus
waiting around in a parking lot,
it saves on fuel and wear and tear
on the trucks, but more importantly
it saves fatigue on our drivers,
especially our night drivers.”
Reputation is everything,
according to Pietrafeso. “We go out
of our way to work with our drivers.
15 standard-duty rollback
carriers with 21-ft. steel beds
and wheel lifts
Services
• 24-hour roadside service
• Light- and medium-duty
towing and recovery
• Local and long-distance towing
• Vehicle storage
• Full-service repair shop
When they are here, they work and
when they need something (like time
off), we’re here to help. We’ve been
in business for 26 years and we’ve
never missed a payroll and never
bounced a check. Word gets around
about a company like that.”
In addition to taking care of its
employees, Pietrafeso credits reliable
equipment to the growth of the company. “When these trucks are down,
our drivers aren’t making money.
We do whatever it takes to make
sure our trucks are operational, and
the Jerr-Dan decision has been a
good one.”
The proof is in the statistics:
“The majority of our drivers have
been around for a while; some more
than 20 years. That’s an oddity in
this business, and one that we’d like
to maintain,” he concludes. ■
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D
March 2007
Company News
International Review
American Towman
Expo 2006 Roundup
Jerr-Dan around the world
The weather was cookin’ and so was the action on the track during the second annual
Grand Prix of Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadian City of Champions played host to
a Champ Car World Series Grand Prix race this past summer. More than 170,000
people braved the sweltering heat to watch the competition. Alberta Motor Association
was an event sponsor and the “official
rescue vehicle” for the Grand Prix of
Edmonton. ERS drivers kept busy cleaning up more than 25 vehicle collisions.
ERS had four wrecker trucks (Jerr-Dan
HPL 35s with Ford F450 chassis) and
two carriers on hand during the races.
Nearly 12,000 towing professionals
from all 50 states (and 20 nations)
flooded the show floor at the 2006
event in Baltimore.
Glenn, Marianne and Kevin Fox of
Alligator Towing in Naples, Fla., took delivery of this brand-new Jerr-Dan
60-ton Rotator after the show.
This Jerr-Dan HDL 600 wrecker, mounted
on an Oshkosh Highland truck chassis,
is the first of its kind — and it was
recently delivered to Iraq to assist
in reconstruction.
The Jerr-Dan HDL 700/480 35-ton wrecker was on display.
The Jerr-Dan booth was buzzing with a full staff,
ready to answer all your questions!
Check out the MPL40 wrecker
with motorcycle transport system.
Join us for the
next American
Towman Expo!
The Side Loading Vehicle Retriever
(SLVR) made another appearance
this year. The carrier was debuted at
the 2005 American Towman Expo.
November 16-18, 2007
The Pioneer aluminum carrier
with 21-ft. bed was popular.
Jerr-Dan
welcomes
new regional
manager
Jerr-Dan Corporation recently welcomed Len Zermeno as the company’s newest regional manager
for the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Zermeno provides sales support, customer service assistance and
spec’ing support to customers through Jerr-Dan’s distribution network.
RUN H AR D
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March 2007
Len Zermeno has worked in and around towing
equipment his entire life, including a successful career
in sales with several of Jerr-Dan’s largest distributors.
His knowledge of the business started in 1986 working side-by-side with his father, performing installations of towing equipment. Zermeno has also been a
successful business owner and joined Jerr-Dan after
selling his business.
“We’re extremely pleased to have Len, a long-time
friend and supporter of Jerr-Dan, join us as our newest
regional manager. He knows towing equipment and
understands the needs of the tow operator,” says Joel
Amsley, Jerr-Dan vice president of sales. “Len brings
years of experience to the table. He is well known and
respected within our industry.” www.jerr-dan.com
Left: Bill and Roberta Smith, owners of
Cowichan Towing in Duncan, British Columbia,
find the Hino 258 twin tunnels, coupled with the
HPL 6000 gave them maximum towability.
Right: Folks at C&N Rentals in Courtenay,
British Columbia, like the tow hitch feature of this
aluminum carrier with 19-ft bed. Both trucks were
sold by Del Equipment Limited in Port Coquitlam,
British Columbia.
Left: Alberta Motor Association in Edmonton,
Alberta, thanks Glenn Badry of Tony’s Towing
in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, for taking delivery of this
MDL 280/110 integrated wrecker.
Right: All Rig Towing of Winnipeg, Manitoba,
recently took delivery of this Jerr-Dan HDL 500.
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D
March 2007
Jack’s Viewpoint
Selecting Your
Heavy
Duty
Steer clear of the ‘ratings game.’
By Jack Schrock
S
electing a
heavy duty (HD)
wrecker can be
a little overwhelming,
especially if it’s your
first HD purchase.
Before you make that
purchase, there are
many factors to
consider in addition
to the rating.
Upon close
examination, it soon
becomes obvious that there is a
tremendous difference between
wreckers with the same rating from
different manufacturers. To address
this, the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) encouraged the
development of SAE J2512, which
sets forth a standard procedure for
testing and rating a wrecker.
However, you need to know
that (1) not everybody follows
the voluntary standard, choosing
instead to rate their equipment on
the basis of size and appearance,
and (2) those that do follow the
standard are required to validate
only the wrecker boom, which alone
determines the rating.
RUN H AR D
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March 2007
As a result, very important
performance features are often
not a part of the rating process.
Likewise, the smaller Jerr-Dan 25ton wrecker offers such features that
may not be available on a competitor’s wrecker of twice the rating.
The ratings game
So, what’s the deal with this
ratings business? Well, wrecker
manufacturers and fabricators have
learned that most towers are looking
only at the rating and price when
making a purchase decision. So,
salesmen play the game of offering
a higher rating at a lower price in
order to sell more equipment. The
reality is that the necessary performance features are often completely overlooked, forcing the buyer
to later modify and upfit in order to
achieve even modest performance.
Yes, there once was a time
when reputable wrecker manufacturers designed, manufactured, tested
and rated their entire wrecker and
not just the structural strength of
the wrecker boom. But the introduction of the hydraulic wrecker has
allowed some emerging “assem-
blers” to randomly purchase
off-the-shelf components and then
give the completed unit an unrealistically high and unproven rating.
To those that do not test at all, such
a rating is little more than a meaningless set of numbers stamped on
the nameplate.
Jerr-Dan offers a
performance rating
Jerr-Dan welcomes prospective
buyers of HD wreckers at our plant
for a talk and tour. We begin in the
conference room by asking each
visitor the rating of the wrecker they
are interested in. When they tell us,
we then ask why they’ve selected
that particular rating. Without
exception, nobody ever knows
why, which confirms that most are
already trapped in this ratings-andprice game.
Before going any further, we
explain that Jerr-Dan offers a full
line of Towing and Recovery (T&R)
equipment starting with the entrylevel 25-ton up to the severe-service
60-ton Rotator. When installed on
a proper chassis, all are capable of
both towing and recovery.
And, as in the past, Jerr-Dan
designs, manufactures and tests its
equipment before giving it an overall
performance rating that applies
to the entire unit, not just the boom.
There is even more as Jerr-Dan will
configure the model that best serves
your needs with accessories and an
appropriate truck chassis to assure
total performance that fully meets
your expectations.
Look beyond the
boom rating
If you’ve just landed a large
bus fleet, the first thing to consider
is the distance from the wheels (pick
point) to the front/rear of the bus
because towing these fragile vehicles
will be a major part of your job. If
your new underlift won’t extend far
enough to make that pick, then that
particular wrecker won’t
do your job no matter
how high the boom rating.
when the winches are smaller or just
Also, if you’re primarily doing
cheap knock-offs?
There are many other important
recovery work, then higher-capacity, multiple (not just variable) speed
features to consider if you want your
winches with longer service lines
new rig to do the job and none are
are essential if you expect to win the reflected in the boom rating. Look
bonus money for early completion.
beyond the nameplate rating to the
And boom lifting height and
performance features and then
capacity when
take the time
fully extended
to match those
can also be
features to your
“Look beyond the
important
work requirenameplate rating
recovery factors
ment. Only in
to the performance
to consider.
this way can
features and then
None of
you be assured
take
the
time
these stats are
of equipment
to match those
to be found in
that will do your
features to your
the so-called
job at a competiwork requirement.”
“rating.” What’s
tive price.
the value of a
To better
higher-rated
understand the
boom when the underlift only
process, you are cordially invited
extends 92 in., or tilts up only to a plant tour. Contact your autho10 degrees, or
rized Jerr-Dan distributor for details.
doesn’t even tilt See Ya’ Soon!
For more information visit
at all, or
www.jerr-dan.com. ■
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D
March 2007
TAKES ANYTHING YOU THROW
Jerr-Dan® aluminum and steel carriers are built to withstand years of hard use. That’s because Jerr-Dan builds the toughest materials
and most innovative technologies into superior designs. STEELBEAMTM technology on aluminum carriers means lightweight mobility with
heavy-duty durability. No-LubeTM pivot joints on all Jerr-Dan carriers mean no mess and even less worries. And all that means you can handle
the most difficult towing and recovery jobs over and over again. Whatever the job throws at you, throw it at Jerr-Dan.
©2007 JERR-DAN CORPORATION
®JERR-DAN AND THE JERR-DAN LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF JERR-DAN CORPORATION, GREENCASTLE, PA.
ON IT OR AT IT.
Business Management
Soliciting
New Accounts
By Brent and Cheri Ellision-Carroll of Ellison’s Towing Inc.
I
s it important to
obtain new
accounts? Or
can you rest
comfortably on
your laurels,
confident that
your current
accounts will
always be
around, and
most importantly, will always
call you for their
towing needs?
I believe that soliciting and
obtaining new accounts on a regular, continuous basis is one of the
most important endeavors you can
do to improve your business. In this
day and age there are two things
you can bank on: First, businesses
can and do fail at an alarmingly
fast rate with little or no warning to
an outside observer, and two, someone wants YOUR current accounts!
It does happen
Let me give you a personal
example that recently happened to
not only our business, but numerous towing companies in California.
There was a very large auto repair
chain that had been in business for
about 40 years, with many auto
repair shops throughout the state.
There were many towing companies
that listed this particular business as
one of their largest accounts, includ12
RUN H AR D
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March 2007
ing us. All of a sudden, overnight,
every one of their body shops closed
their doors. On the Friday before,
employees went home as usual.
The following Monday morning
when they returned to work —
surprise! The doors were chained
shut and a security guard was
posted in front of every auto body
shop! Some locations never opened
that Monday. At other shops that
had already opened their doors,
employees were escorted out and
the doors were locked with a freeze
on all tools and vehicles owned by
employees and customers! To add
insult to injury, the employees’ last
paychecks bounced. Ouch!
What happened? Well it turns
out that a couple of creditors had
put them in liquidation over the
weekend. Interestingly, only the
previous Wednesday, it had been
announced and carried in all of the
state’s largest newspapers that this
company was going to be acquired
by another large auto body chain,
and the future was wonderful for
their employees! Wow!
Suddenly, we had lost one of
our top accounts, with all outstanding monies owed uncollectible. But,
fortunately, we are always soliciting
other business leads to expand our
client base. We secured a couple
of those leads that very month and
it more than made up for the loss.
But what if we had not been proactive? Well, we obviously would have
needed to lay off employees until we
located some more business. And
that could have taken days, weeks
or even months.
Be proactive
Since it should now be painfully obvious on the “WHY,” what
about the “HOW”? How do you
obtain new clients? Will it be easy?
Not always. In all likelihood, you
will encounter all types of resistance
when you make your sales pitch,
ranging from fierce loyalty to the
current towing company to reluctance to try new things. You will
hear replies such as “We don’t have
a problem with XYZ Towing, so why
should we switch?”
However, you must realize that
these are the very answers you are
looking for, as it gives you the “in”
to SELL YOUR BUSINESS and its
strengths. You CAN do that at the
drop of a hat, can’t you?
If not, sit down and make a
list detailing all your company’s
strengths. What can you provide
that your competitor cannot, or will
not? Can you guarantee prompt,
damage-free service? Can you
provide your prospective client with
both a truck and driver that match
or exceed their expectations of
professionalism? If you can, then by
all means TELL THEM ABOUT IT!
Be honest. Never promise
anything you cannot or will not do.
Want an example? Do not make a
sales call and tell them you have
shiny, clean, late-model trucks and
think
BIG
that your drivers are always in full
uniform, and can guarantee delivery
to every tow within 30 minutes after
the initial call. Don’t THEN have
your driver show up two hours later
wearing a sloppy shirt and worn
jeans, driving a battered and dirty
20-year-old truck! Do so, and I can
guarantee that you will get two tows
from them at the same time, your
first and last!
Stay in touch
As stated earlier, never forget
that your competitor is also looking
at your current accounts, trying to
figure out a way to capture them for
their own! This reason alone should
be all the motivation you need to get
out and generate new accounts. It
should also be a driving factor for
you to be making occasional visits
to your current clients, ensuring that
you are doing everything you need
to in order to keep their business.
Who knows, in the six months
since you visited their repair facility,
maybe their needs have changed.
Perhaps they hired a new service
manager, whose responsibilities
include calling a towing company
to bring vehicles to their shop. How
would you know if you haven’t seen
them for a year or more?
These things happen on a fairly
frequent basis. Your competitor is
watching for it. Don’t allow them to
have that advantage over you. It’s a
business “Rule of Thumb” that it is
far easier and more enlightened to
keep a valuable employee than it is
to find a new one. The same can be
said for clients. If you do not take
care of your current customer base,
you will find them looking for someone who will. You will find they will
not have far to go.
Donald Trump is quoted as
saying “Since you are going to
think anyway, think BIG.” I love this.
Have you ever driven by a large
company, a tall skyscraper, or an
incredibly posh business, thinking
how great it would be to land THAT
ONE, but being too intimidated to
drive up and do a “cold call” sales
pitch? Don’t let it happen to you!
Honestly, you really have absolutely nothing to lose if they turn you
down, and everything to gain if they
agree to give you a try.
Go for it! Have fun. Be proud
of what you are, and how you can
provide your service better than
anyone else. Think BIG!
For more information visit
www.jerr-dan.com. ■
DewEze is proud to be the supplier of
mobile hydraulics to Jerr-Dan.
We’re here for all your hydraulic needs—
not just auto loaders.
A Division of Harper Industries, Inc.
151 E. Hwy. 160, Harper, Kansas 67058 • [email protected]
Toll Free 800-835-1042
www.deweze.com
Manufacturing
Quality
At Jerr-Dan
it starts and
ends with people.
By Mike Baer, vice president of manufacturing for Jerr-Dan Corporation
A
t Jerr-Dan we do whatever
it takes to deliver both highquality and high-value towing
and recovery equipment. We know
that quality just doesn’t happen by
accident — at Jerr-Dan quality is an
integral part of our culture.
Quality people, quality engineering, quality facilities and quality
processes yield quality products.
Unfortunately, being quality-minded
alone doesn’t guarantee flawless
operations and quality products.
Rather, it takes a concerted effort
and realization on our part to
recognize that errors can be transformed into a positive learning
experience, educational process
and ultimately a focused opportunity
for improvement.
The focus of this particular
article is on the human element of
the Jerr-Dan quality culture. Future
articles will address our facility and
process improvements.
People make
the difference
Investments in facilities, equipment and processes are very important aspects of our quality culture,
but equally, if not more important,
is investment in our people.
It often goes without saying,
but definitely well worth focusing on
here, that quality products start and
14
RUN H AR D
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
March 2007
end with quality people.
Quality products start with
the people who build your units ­—
from assemblers to welders and
all the other fabricators, machinists,
painters and preppers in between
— paying attention to the details
that allow our carriers and wreckers
to live up to the high-quality
standards you’ve come to expect
from Jerr-Dan.
There are also the support
groups that keep our processes
working and moving along at an
appropriate pace. These groups
of well-trained people help our
builders successfully accomplish their
tasks and master their jobs. These
support functions are represented
by inspection, maintenance, tooling, service, shipping and receiving,
stockroom, material handling,
subcontractors and the yard crew.
Next there’s the office support
groups from accounting to warranty
to customer service, engineering,
human resources, marketing,
quality, management information
systems and sales.
Last, but not least, are the
operational support groups
responsible for health and safety,
production, scheduling, supervision,
environmental affairs, purchasing,
facilities, equipment and industrial
engineering.
www.jerr-dan.com
is our culture
Investing in the
human side
At Jerr-Dan, we continue
to “grow” the human side of our
business. We not only add additional employees as needed, but
we also train those employees to
possess the knowledge and passion
to perform their jobs to our, and
your, quality standards.
Increased focus, efforts and
added resources in the area of
safety, quality, LEAN manufacturing,
training and certification ultimately
makes us safer, more capable and
more competent.
What does an investment in our
people mean to you, our customers?
• Better products
• Better features
• Lower costs
• Higher reliability
• Increased confidence
The key players
Operationally, the groups
leading the charge and empowered
with making it happen everyday at
Jerr-Dan are:
• Stefan Aberg – IE/ME
Manager responsible for industrial
engineering, manufacturing engineering, production control and
LEAN manufacturing functions.
• Steve Akers – Plant
Manager responsible for carrier
operations including production,
supervision and scheduling.
• Joe Baskin – Materials
Manager responsible for purchasing
functions.
• Brian Blind – Site Manager
responsible for Las Vegas operations
including sales, installation and
distribution functions.
• Ray Fair – Plant Manager
responsible for wrecker operations
including production, supervision
and scheduling functions.
• Tim McCulloh –
Operations Engineer responsible
for environmental functions and
facilities operation.
• Todd Sheffer – Safety
Manager responsible for health
and safety functions.
Obliviously a lot of effort
and people — many more than
are mentioned here — go into our
products and your equipment.
The attention to detail and
investment here at Jerr-Dan are
evident in both the products we
deliver and services we provide
to you everyday.
Jerr-Dan’s commitment to
improvement and investment in our
people, products, processes and
places never ends and is an integral
part of our continuous improvement
journey and commitment to you
our customer.
Thank you for your business
and confidence in our products
— and more importantly — thank
you for your confidence in our most
valuable asset, our people.
For more information visit
www.jerr-dan.com. ■
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D 15
March 2007
Owner Profile
Putting it in
Perspective
T
owing and family — these
are the true passions for
Brian Hawkins, “Hawk,”
owner of Hawk’s Towing & Recovery
in Trenton, N.J. The soon-to-be
father (for the fifth time!) runs his
family towing business with his wife
Cynthia and a crew of about 12
dedicated employees.
Hawkins began his towing company in 1988 with just one truck.
In the last 19 years, he’s grown
his company to a successful towing, recovery and repair business
servicing nine police departments,
numerous motor clubs and a slew
of private accounts.
One piece of advice he offers:
“Love what you do and involve your
family because life is very short.”
Hawk knows
Brian Hawkins, owner, brings new meaning to the word “customized.” His MPL40 self-loader is paired with a 2006 Ford F-450 and is customized with aluminum Alcoa wheels, leather interior, 54 LED lights, custom stainless running boards, 4-in. chrome stacks, CD/DVD player and even Lamborghini- style doors!
16
RUN H AR D
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
March 2007
the meaning of this statement all too
well for his father, Robert J. Hawkins
Sr., passed away last year.
“My dad drove for us for 16
years,” Hawk says. “It’s not the
same without him around.”
Family first
Despite the recent loss of his
father, Hawk has continued to grow
his towing business to the fast-paced
bustling company it is today. His
secret: dedication to the business
and family involvement.
“I don’t know any other way to
describe it. It’s hard work, but if you
have your family/wife partnering
with you, it makes your business
that much stronger.”
And partnering it is. Hawk’s wife
and children can be seen at the
shop almost every day. His 2-yearold has shown great interest in the
business. “Lil Hawk knows when
there’s a tow show coming up,”
Hawk says.
“There’s no
way I can leave him home!”
Walk into the Trenton, N.J., shop
at any time and you’ll experience the
hustle and bustle for yourself.
Hawk can be found in the fullservice repair shop, in the dispatch
area or front office, in his own
office or towing in his fully customized MPL40.
Working beauty
To say Hawk has customized his
MPL40 is really an understatement.
The Jerr-Dan MPL40 self-loader
is equipped with twin 8,000-lb.
Ramsey winches and rides on a
2006 Ford F-450 chassis.
The customization includes
aluminum Alcoa wheels, 4-in.
chrome stacks, 54 LED lights, front
and rear strobes, 10-head strobe
light-bar, underbody neon lights,
custom-made mirror, stainless running boards, a CD/DVD
player, leather interior and
This New Jersey
tower grows his family towing
business the old-fashioned way — one truck at a time.
Winner of Tow Times 2006 Shine ‘n Star award, Hawk’s MPL40 is a true customized
beauty. Here it rests on top of the company’s two Jerr-Dan carriers, each sporting 21-ft. steel beds.
embroidered seats. And the paint
job is spectacular!
The truck was recently named the
Tow Times 2006 Shine ‘n Star grand
prize winner.
Aside from its appearance,
Hawk’s MPL40 (one of four Jerr-Dan
trucks in his fleet) is a working truck;
called on daily for impound, private
property and police towing.
“People think this truck is just for
show; it’s not! I use it every day and
I work it hard,” he stresses.
The light-duty truck has really
come in handy for the towing jobs
that take up most of the company’s
time. Servicing within a 30-mile
radius of the city of Trenton, which
is 7 miles in radius itself, is a fastpaced business.
“The negative tilt of the MPL40
really helps with our private property towing,” Hawk says. “It also
allows us to get in and out quickly,
a must for this type of towing.”
The company’s fleet services nine
police departments, including the
New Jersey State Police, Hamilton
Police, Mercer County Sheriff’s
Dept., Amtrak Police and the City of
Trenton, as well as dealerships, local
body and repair shops and most of
the motor clubs.
Making money
“I tow for most of the motor
clubs,” Hawk says. “You can make
money at it if you are careful and
don’t overextend your area.
“The trucks are here and ready
to work so I see no sense in leaving them parked and waiting for
other work when motor club work is
abundant. It’s what’s paying for my
trucks, fuel and drivers.”
In addition to the MPL40, which
handles a good portion of the motor
club work, Hawk’s Towing’s fleet
also incorporates two 21-ft. steelbed Jerr-Dan rollbacks with wheel
lifts and an HDL 500/280 25-ton
integrated wrecker.
The greaseless pad system on
the rollbacks is a favorite feature of
Owner Profile
Hawks Towing
& Recovery
Trenton, New Jersey
Hawk’s — and
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Wrecker:
one of the first
One MPL40 light-duty wrecker
reasons he
Carriers:
bought his first
Two standard-duty steel rollback
Jerr-Dan.
carriers with 21-ft. beds and wheel lifts
His most
recent purchase,
Services
the 25-ton HDL
• 24-hour roadside service
500/280 has
• Light-, medium- and heavy-duty
brought him
towing and recovery
• Vehicle storage
more into the
• Full-service repair shop
heavy-duty market, one which
he would like to
expand in upcoming years.
“I haven’t been in the heavy-duty
market that long, although I’ve been
around trucks my whole life,” he
concludes. “I love the versatility and
power of this new 25-ton and I am
focusing our growth on the heavyduty market. I plan to work hard
and build my heavy-duty fleet just
like I built my light-duty fleet: one
Jerr-Dan truck at a time.” ■
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D 17
March 2007
Distributor Profiles
summit truck
equipment
T
he occasionSummit Truck
ally harsh
Equipment
Colorado
7626 Brighton Road
climate can dish
Commerce City, Colorado
out some pretty
Phone: (303) 301-7568
tough weather.
Fax: (303) 289-5731
www.summitbodies.com
Tow trucks that
operate in this
area require a rugged, reliable tow
body. And owners need a distributor
who knows how to service the issues
that this climate brings.
Summit Truck Equipment is
that distributor for the states of
Colorado, Montana, Wyoming,
Kansas and Nebraska.
Distributor
Above & beyond
“We are the new kids on the
block,” explains Jerry Viall, sales
manager. “Having been in this business segment just under a year, we
have a lot to prove to our customers and we’re ready to take on the
challenge.”
Summit Truck Equipment has
the tools to make that happen.
Operating under the Transwest Inc.
umbrella, Summit Truck Equipment
customers have access to all the
services the Transwest group has
to offer including trucks and truck
equipment, parts, service and maintenance and financing.
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RUN H AR D
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
March 2007
“As part of the Transwest family of companies, we have all the
puzzle pieces at our fingertips,”
says Brad Williams, Transwest marketing manager.
“People, tools, facility, training — if you miss any of those
puzzle pieces, it’s difficult to grow,”
he adds. “Our partnership with
Transwest provides us with all these
key pieces. And our customers know
that with the Transwest name behind
us, we’re not going to disappear
tomorrow.”
Summit Truck Equipment
operates as a separate entity from
Transwest, which allows the six fulltime Summit salesmen to focus on
one thing: towing equipment.
“We are dedicated to strictly
towing equipment,” says account
executive Dan Kalland. “We go
above and beyond for every customer — whether they own one tow
truck or 50 tow trucks.”
The Jerr-Dan equipment has
also made servicing the towing
equipment a snap. With more than
25 years of experience between
them, Jerry and Dan both say service issues with Jerr-Dan carriers is
currently at a minimum.
“The three main problems
that plagued tow truck drivers
in the past have been effectively
addressed by Jerr-Dan,” explains
Viall. “Greaseless technology has
taken operator error out of the
equation, the slide track system for
hoses and the manufactured harness inside the body has eliminated
any electrical challenges.” ■
Eastern Wrecker
Sales, Inc.
Distributor
Eastern Wrecker
Sales, Inc.
13401 US 70 West
Clayton, North Carolina
Phone: (919) 553-4038
Fax: (919) 553-2468
www.easternwrecker.com
T
“
he length of time you’ve
been in business is one of
the most important factors in
the continuity of that business,” says
Worden Price, co-owner/operator
of Eastern Wrecker Sales.
“When things are good,
anybody can succeed,” he adds.
“But when the economy slows, you’ve
got to have repeat customers.”
At Eastern Wrecker Sales,
building that repeat business is
done by cultivating relationships.
And the North-Carolina-based
company has many years of
experience building relationships.
Eastern Wrecker Sales was founded
in 1969 by Billy Kornegay and
Worden Price and is the oldest
active Jerr-Dan distributor.
“We spend a lot of time with
our customers, both before and
after the sale,” explains Chris
Taylor, general manager. “A good
distributor is one that is there for
their customers, understands their
needs and provides solutions to
those needs.”
A large parts inventory, drivein service bays with trained and
qualified staff, and fully stocked
installation bays are just a few of
the amenities Eastern Wrecker Sales
offers its towing customers. Helping
them to navigate their financing
and insurance needs is another.
Put quality first
“One of our main considerations when we started this
company was to sell the best product available,” recalls Price. “We
feel that Jerr-Dan offers the best
quality in towing equipment and
we want to be associated with that
quality. In the end it all comes down
to what’s best for our customers.”
“When we receive a request
for a truck we respond to two
streams of input,” agrees Taylor,
“what our customers want and
what our engineers find safe for the
application. As a final-stage manufacturer, it’s up to us to make sure
the two are in agreement.”
The bottom line for Eastern
Wrecker Sales — selling the
Jerr-Dan product line throughout
North Carolina and Southern
Virginia is really all about long-term
relationships.
“If we have long-term relationships with our customers and with
our suppliers, it doesn’t get better
than that,” concludes Price. ■
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D 19
March 2007
Running Hard
Show & Go
what can
what does
your jerr-dan look like?
This was the
first Jerr-Dan
MPL and Ford 450
extended cab combo
built in Las Vegas
by start-up company
Ashley’s Towing.
The company is
named after owner
Sean’s wife.
your jerr-dan do?
Alligator
Towing’s
twin-steer Jerr-Dan
Rotator tows the British
Airways Concord to
its retirement home
where it will remain
on display for the
general public.
This truck belongs to
Hendricksons Pro Tows from
Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Jerr-Dan
MDL 500/280 rides on a Kenworth
T-800 chassis. The truck also has
a 20,000-lb. I.W.S. Sidepuller.
Hendricksons is a family business,
run by the father/son team of
Ron and James Hendrickson.
In Baltimore,
Maryland an oil
tanker loses its brakes
and crashes into a
river. A Sullivan’s
Garage Rotator
recovers the tractor
and trailer and loads
it for transport.
This truck belongs to
All Rite Towing
in Gresham, Oregon. The
Jerr-Dan HPL 6000 rides on
an International 4300 chassis. The truck has many custom features including extra
LED lighting, push bumper,
and stainless and aluminum
trim, to name just a few!
Win a Trip
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RUN H AR D
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
March 2007
to Nascar!
How to Win:
Share your Jerr-Dan truck photo!
Submit your photos via:
Pinellas Auto Body Inc. in Clearwater, Florida, sports this Jerr-Dan carrier
with 22-ft. steel bed, which rides on a 2004 International 4300 chassis. This is an
everyday use truck with 99,000 miles and it’s in great condition! It’s fully loaded with allpower air horns, air compressor and exhaust brake, and stainless steel toolbox and chrome
simulators on 22.5-in. wheels. A Whelen light bar, extra spotlights, T37 wheel lift with
scoops, and hitch plate round out the package.
Stepp’s Towing
handles the most
severe towing applications, like this
168,000-lb. crane,
with their new
Jerr-Dan Rotator.
E-MAIL: to [email protected]
(High-res photos only. Please set your
digital camera to take photos as large
of a size and as many pixels as possible.)
MAIL: to Editor, Run Hard magazine
1233 Janesville Avenue,
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
In addition to your photo, please provide your
complete contact information. Also tell us what
model of Jerr-Dan you have, what model chassis
you have and why you are submitting your truck.
Nascar trip details:
- All-expenses-paid trip for two
to the Texas Motor Speedway
November 2 - 5, 2007
- Airfare and hotel accommodations included
- Motorcoach transportation to and from
the race included
- All meals included (welcome
reception, breakfast, dinners)
- Lunch at The Speedway Club
(private club at Texas Motor Speedway)
- Race tickets for two
- Credentials (garage & pit access)
- Welcome-gift package
* Winner will be drawn in
September 2007 and will be
notified via phone/e-mail.
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
RUN H AR D
March 2007
21
U.S. & Canada Jerr-Dan Distributor Header
Listing
Q&A
Q&A
Upcoming
shows
Q.
Where do I find my nearest Jerr-Dan distributor?
A. Online of course! You can find your nearest
Jerr-Dan Distributor by visiting the Jerr-Dan website at
www.jerr-dan.com. Once at the home page, simply enter
your zip code into the “Find a Distributor” box in the
“Tools” section. Select a mile radius
you’d like that Distributor to be located from you and click “Find.” Your
nearest Distributor will be displayed,
along with all their contact information. There’s even a search engine
for Canadian and International
Distributors!
You can also locate a
Distributor near you by calling
Jerr-Dan directly at 800-926-9666.
z
Q. Are your slide pads truly greaseless?
A. Yes. With No-Lube Technology the lubricants
™
from the slide pads, or composite bearings, transfer to the
deck running beam or plated pins respectively. Both surfaces become low friction and therefore do not require any
lubrication.
Jerr-Dan recommends only an initial, light coating of
hydraulic or machine oil on the slide pad surfaces to help
during the break-in period of the system.
do you have a
questiON?
Do you have a question that you would like answered?
If so, please e-mail your question to
[email protected]
In addition to your question, please include your name, company and location.
22
RUN H AR D
vo l . 1 6 , n o. 1
March 2007
Date April 12-15
Show Southeastern Regional Tow Show
& Incident Mgmt. Expo
Location Jim Miller Park and Coliseum
City Marietta, Georgia
Date May 10-13
Show Florida Tow Show
Location Coronado Springs Resort at
Walt Disney World
City Orlando, Florida
Date
Show
Location
City
May 19-20
New Hampshire Tow & Trade Show
Hampton Beach State Park
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Date
Show
Location
City
May 31-June 2
CTTA Western States Tow Show
Silver Legacy Resort & Casino
Reno, Nevada
Date June 1-3
Show Empire State Towing &
Recovery Association
Location Ft. William Henry Resort
City Lake George, New York
Date June 15-17
Show Wisconsin Towing Association
Annual Convention
Location Chula Vista Resort
City Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Date
Show
Location
City
August 3-4
Texas Tow Expo
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas
Date August 17-19
Show Professional Towing & Recovery Operators of Illinois
Location Wyndham Lisle- Chicago Hotel
City Chicago, Illinois
Date September 22-23
Show Statewide Towing Assoc.
Tow Show & Expo
Location DCU Center
City Worcester, Massachusetts
Date October 24-28
Show Texas Towing & Storage Assoc. Lonestar Wrecker Round-Up
Location Arlington Convention Center
City Arlington, Texas
www.jerr-dan.com
Alabama
Miami, FL
Rechtien Intl. Trucks
dba Wreckers Limited
305-888-0111
Dubuque, IA
Truck Country of Iowa Inc.
563-556-2616
Ozark, AL
Stormins Inc.
334-774-7138
Riviera Beach, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
561-882-9050
Wichita, KS
Kansas Truck Center
316-945-5600
Sanford, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
407-321-8474
Burlington, KY
Tipton Auto Sales
& Parts Inc.
859-689-4222
Sparks, NV
Silver State International
775-685-6000
Louisiana
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Nussbaum Sales Corp.
201-288-3885
Arab, AL
Austin Hinds Motors Inc.
256-586-8161
Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
Todd Equipment, Inc.
480-557-8633
Arkansas
Caraway, AR
Cars, Inc.
870-482-3614
Pocahontas, AR
Ward’s Wrecker
Sales & Service
870-248-1000
California
Concord, CA
Best Equipment
510-569-1288
Fontana, CA
Gooding Enterprises, Inc.
909-357-7920
Fresno, CA
Valley Wrecker Sales Inc.
559-485-1513
Hawthorne, CA
Tow World Inc.
310-263-1200
San Leandro, CA
Tow World Inc.
510-430-9894
Torrence, CA
California Western
Towing Equipment
310-787-0208
West Sacramento, CA
Riverview International
Trucks Inc.
916-371-3110
Colorado
Commerce City, CO
Summit Truck Equipment
303-289-3161
Delaware
Selbyville, DE
Danzi Brothers Inc.
302-436-2000
Florida
Jacksonville, FL
Stover Sales Inc.
904-696-3496
Kansas
Kentucky
Tampa, FL
Atlanta Wrecker &
Carrier Sales Inc.
813-626-2144
Gary, LA
Southland International
of Louisiana
985-876-3000
Georgia
Smyrna, GA
Atlanta Wrecker &
Carrier Sales Inc.
770-432-0097
Harahan, LA
Southland International
of Louisiana
504-733-7711
Illinois
Maine
South Portland, ME
Hews Company LLC
207-767-2136
Champaign, IL
Prairie International
217-352-4187
Maryland
Decatur, IL
Prairie International
217-877-8411
Elmhurst, IL
Worldwide Equipment
Sales LLC
630-617-9848
Quincy, IL
Prairie International
217-222-1518
Indianapolis, IN
Hedinger’s Equipment
317-322-7885
Cedar Rapids, IA
Truck Country of Iowa Inc.
319-365-0531
Davenport, IA
Truck Country of Iowa Inc.
309-507-1525
Des Moines, IA
Truck Country of Iowa Inc.
515-265-7361
New Jersey
Shrewsbury, NJ
Circle Truck Center
732-741-3130
Spotswood, NJ
Giancola Motor Car Corp.
732-251-4422
New York
Albany, NY
P.A. Ruth Automotive
518-456-0356
Port Jefferson Station, NY
Ramp Chevrolet Inc.
631-473-1234
Michigan
Detroit, MI
Santoro Inc.
315-526-1300
Minnesota
iowa
Columbia, PA
Nussbaum Equipment Inc.
717-684-0189
North Las Vegas, NV
McCandless International
702-642-8789
Baltimore, MD
Maryland Carrier &
Wrecker Sales
410-247-5700
West Hatfield, MA
G & S Industrial
413-247-9631
Greensburg, IN
Hedinger’s Auto Care, Inc.
812-663-7885
Nevada
Hornell, NY
Elsenheimer Chevrolet
607-324-3330
Lancaster, MA
Crawford Truck Sales Inc.
978-534-1954
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Omaha, NE
Omaha Truck Center
402-592-2440
Aberdeen MD
JP Chevrolet
410-272-0300
Massachusetts
Springfield, IL
Prairie International
217-523-5631
Nebraska
St. Paul, MN
Twin Cities Wrecker Sales
651-488-4210
Mississippi
Brandon, MS
Magnolia Wrecker Sales
601-825-6400
Missouri
St. Louis, MO
Archway International
314-771-3900
North Carolina
Clayton, NC
Eastern Wrecker Sales
919-553-4038
Collegeville, PA
Mobile Lifts
610-489-1900
Greencastle, PA
Mason Dixon
Trucks & Carriers Inc.
717-597-9400
Scenery Hill, PA
ASCO Enterprises Inc.
724-945-5525
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Truck
570-823-0144
Virginia
Manassas Park, VA
Horton Truck
and Equipment
703-530-7800
Woodbridge, VA
Matheny Motor Truck Co.
703-499-9216
Washington
Tacoma, WA
Northwest Equipment
Sales & Service
253-922-7581
West Virginia
Parkersburg, WV
Matheny Motor Truck Co.
304-485-4418
Wisconsin
Windber, PA
GAP Chevrolet
814-467-4596
Milwaukee, WI
Badger Truck Center
414-344-9500
South Carolina
Shullsburg, WI
Truck Country of Iowa
563-556-3773
Orangeburg, SC
Smith Services Inc.
803-533-1585
Simpsonville, SC
Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier
Sales Inc.
864-688-0170
Tennessee
Rockwood, TN
Glenn’s Motors
and Auto Parts
865-354-0622
Texas
West Allis, WI
Badger Truck of West Allis
800-553-1927
Windsor, WI
Badger Truck of Madison
866-846-0680
Canada
Charlesbourg, Quebec
Plamondon Camquip LTEE
418-849-7575
Buda, TX
Wrecker Capitol
512-312-5655
Dorval, Quebec
Del Equipment Limited
514-684-1760
Dallas, TX
Coker Equipment
214-742-5221
Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta Motor Association
780-430-5520
Canal Winchester, OH
Bob McDorman
Chevrolet Inc.
614-837-3421
Houston, TX
RPM Equipment
281-590-1494
Mississauga, Ontario
H.R. Runciman & Co., LTD
905-625-7222
Toledo, OH
ABCO
419-536-6123
Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Rocky Mountain
Wrecker Sales
801-268-8850
Moncton, New Brunswick
Del Equipment Limited
506-857-4291
Ohio
Akron, OH
Fallsway Equipment
Co., Inc.
330-633-6000
Oklahoma
Claremore, OK
Tri-State Wrecker Sales Inc.
918-342-4244
Oregon
vermont
White River Junction, VT
Sabil & Sons Inc.
802-295-4325
Port Coquitlam, British
Columbia
Del Equipment Limited
604-941-6241
Lyons, OR
Santiam Enterprises
503-859-2793
Call 800-926-9666 for information on your nearest authorized Jerr-Dan Distributor.
www.jerr-dan.com
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RUN H AR D
March 2007
23