November 1, 2005Archive – Winter 2005: Volume 14 - Jerr-Dan
Transcription
November 1, 2005Archive – Winter 2005: Volume 14 - Jerr-Dan
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 4 | NOVEMBER 2005 www.jerr-dan.com An Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL THE JERR-DAN ROTATOR WORTH THE WAIT PAGE TOWING IN VOLUME CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 8 PAGE PAGE16 4 Comment ALL GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH WAITING FOR I t’s here! The Jerr-Dan 60-ton heavy-duty Rotator has been unveiled! Our recent distributor/tower Rotator introduction event was a huge success, and the comments we’ve received on our new wrecker have been overwhelmingly positive. We set out with a lofty goal for our Rotator — develop the ultimate wrecker. And this took time; years in fact. At Jerr-Dan, we don’t do anything until we’re ready. We don’t necessarily need to be the first; We don’t we just want to be the best. And we wanted necessarily our new Rotator to live need to be the up to our, and your, first; we just expectations. After many chalwant to be the lenges, triumphs, sweat and exhaustion, best. we have achieved our goal. We are proud to introduce the 60-ton heavy-duty Rotator to the towing and recovery industry. Our new workhorse is a combination of heavy-duty capabilities, incredible rotation, unsurpassed pulling capacity and superior design. We know you’ve been waiting patiently for our Rotator, and we thank you for your patience. We also understand, and appreciate, your level of excitement for this new powerhouse. In fact, we hear that a mere 45 minutes after our introduction event at our Greencastle headquarters in early October, pic- “ ” tures of our Rotator were posted on the Internet. We’re flattered by your enthusiasm, and we believe we’ve got the perfect powerhouse to deliver. And a powerhouse it is. This muscle-bound beast has a tip load rating of 18,400 lbs.— far more than the leading competitor. The high-strength alloy fabricated construction boom is offered in both a 2-stage and a 3-stage configuration with a retracted rating of 120,000 lbs. — 44,000 lbs. on the second stage fully extended and 26,000 lbs. at an impressive 43 ft. of boom length. Both complete a 360-degree rotation. Our hydraulic stabilizer system can’t be beat. Stability is provided by the widest double outrigger spread in the industry — 264 in. for front and rear. And setup on uneven terrain is easy with 26 in. of ground penetration. A unique scissors-style stabilizer design keeps loads closer to the ground when lifting over the outrigger’s extended beams. I can go on and on about the features and benefits of our new Rotator. When you are truly excited about something, it’s natural to want to share it with others. We’d like to share information about our new Rotator with you. And we always appreciate your comments. Jeff Weller President FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL Contents 4 JERR-DAN OWNER PROFILE AAA Southern New England standardizes on Jerr-Dan trucks to provide service to 1.5 million members a year. 8 10 12 14 16 JACK’S HEAVY-DUTY The Jerr-Dan Rotator. Worth the wait. PRODUCT PROFILE The 60-ton heavy-duty Rotator. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Equipped to success . . . putting your best truck forward. INDUSTRY NEWS The Rotator introduction event. Team TerraMax completes historic DARPA Grand Challenge. JERR-DAN OWNER PROFILE A diversified fleet of towing equipment helps this Florida tower keep pace with customers’ needs. 20 22 COMPANY NEWS SHOW & GO What does your Jerr-Dan look like? 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, © 2005 Jerr-Dan Corporation Volume 14, Number 4, November 2005. For Canada: Agreement Number 40064547. RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 3 Owner Profile TOWING IN VOLUME AAA SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND STANDARDIZES ON JERR-DAN TRUCKS TO SERVICE 1.5 MILLION MEMBERS A YEAR. anaging a large towing fleet of approximately 100 trucks and 200 drivers for AAA Southern New England would certainly keep anyone on their toes. Brian Levesque handles the position of director of fleet operations for the AAA club, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, with expertise and meticulous organization. A former tower himself, Levesque is no stranger to what it takes to run a successful towing business. “I have 24 years of towing experience operating my own towing company, including light- and heavy-duty towing and recovery,” Levesque explains. “However, managing a fleet the size of AAA Southern New England, with 1.5 million calls a year, can at times be challenging.” To effectively manage such a volume, Levesque relies on structure, organization and, of course, quality equipment. M 4 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 Use what works The majority of AAA Southern New England’s business is made up of light-and medium-duty towing of passenger cars. “We consider the mainstay of our business to be roadside assistance,” clarifies Sherrie Ryan, chief operating officer. Included in that category are day-to-day roadside breakdowns, jump-starts, flat tires, lockouts, etc. To handle the thousands of calls per day that filter through the club’s dispatch center (see photo on page 6), the organization relies exclusively on Jerr-Dan towing equipment. Currently the club’s fleet consists of one MPL40 light-duty integrated wrecker, 38 HPL 35 Series light-duty wreckers and 32 steel-bed standard-duty carriers. The balance of the fleet is made up of service trucks/vans. “When you grow to a fleet our size, standardization is key,” explains Levesque. The towing equipment is typically mounted on Ford chassis (with the exception of four International and 12 GMC cab-over chassis). “We try to purchase chassis and towing units with standard options and equipment to help keep maintenance and purchase costs to a minimum,” he adds. That standard equipment includes 19-ft. steel beds on all carriers. Most carriers are not equipped with wheel lifts because there is usually no need to tow a second vehicle. Of the club’s 38 wreckers (excluding the MPL40), only three have booms; the remaining 31 are equipped with only a deck winch. “We don’t handle many recovery situations so a standard 4,000-lb. Ramsey deck winch works great for our needs,” explains Levesque. “The winch provides our drivers good visibility out the back window and allows for excellent maneuverability in the area’s crowded streets and parking lots.” Staying close AAA Southern New England’s customers include more than 2 million members in the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The club’s main building is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Satellite terminals are located in Woburn and Avon, Massachusetts. Trucks are dispatched three shifts per day to designated areas from the three terminals in a combination of lightservice, wheel-lift and flatbed trucks depending on historical call volumes inherent to the area. “Metropolitan areas tend to require more light service than towing,” explains Levesque. “We examine call data on a regular basis and make changes as needed.” The MPL40, for example, is being test- AAA Southern New England’s Jerr-Dan fleet consists of 19-ft. steel-bed carriers and HPL 35 Series light-duty wreckers, most with deck-mounted winches instead of booms. ed in the Boston metropolitan area, out of the Avon terminal. The city’s congested streets are a perfect fit for the compactbodied wrecker’s capabilities. “We need the flexibility to run the trucks where they are needed,” explains Levesque. “We have compact territories that are densely populated and to run a productive and efficient fleet, we need to manage the call volume from each terminal on a daily basis.” Towed cars are typically towed to a service station instead of back to an AAA terminal. “Members usually want their cars towed directly to a service station,” explains Ryan. “If the customer doesn’t have a mechanic in mind, we recommend several from our approved vendor list and allow the customer to choose.” OWNER PROFILE AAA Southern New England Providence, Rhode Island Woburn and Avon, Massachusetts Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile: Wreckers: 1 MPL40 light-duty integrated wrecker 35 HPL 35 Series light-duty wreckers with deck winch 3 HPL 35 Series light-duty wreckers with twin-line boom Carriers: 32 Standard-Duty Steel carriers with 19-ft. beds Services • Roadside assistance (including jump-starts, lockouts, flat tires, etc.) VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 5 Structure for volume As one of AAA’s numerous clubs across the United States, AAA Southern New England follows the policies and procedures set in place by the national road service organization. As it relates to towing, Levesque internally relies on structured safety and service standards; externally he turns to approved towing contractors. “We set a bar within our organization to deliver what we consider a world-class level of service,” explains Ryan. To deliver such a high standard, AAA has instituted a comprehensive training and safety program for its drivers. Each driver undergoes an extensive criminal background and motor vehicle check, drug testing and work skills assessment test during the interWhen you view process. Ryan grow to a fleet estimates that it takes about five our size, individuals to standardization apply to hire one qualified driver. is key. Once hired, each driver is oriBrian Levesque AAA Southern ented with a comNew England prehensive training program that includes internal safety training and the AAA Five Diamond Training for customer service. Every driver must pass a written and road test as well as participate in hands-on training for several days with a supervisor. Drivers are paid hourly and rewarded based on safety and customer satisfaction initiatives. “We have the ability to survey our members for total satisfaction,” explains Ryan. “And we can break that satisfaction level out to evaluate how each driver is performing.” Only about 10 percent of drivers hired by AAA Southern New England have previous towing experience. “If they have the proper work ethic, we will “ ” Left to right: Tom Engel, Brian Levesque, Jamie Wood, Lloyd Parks, Jim Mahan, Bill Sirois and Ron Sorel gather around this HPL 35 Series wrecker with a deck-mounted winch. train them in the proper procedure to tow and service a car,” says Levesque. The biggest concern for drivers, according to Levesque, is that their equipment is dependable and in good mechanical condition. “Jerr-Dan equipment gives us the ability to offer our drivers this type of equipment with minimal maintenance costs.” Drivers are required to wash trucks before each shift and fill them with fuel at the end of their shift. All trucks are stored at a base terminal. Rules apply externally too “We handle about 16 percent of the club’s towing call volume ourselves,” says Ryan. “The balance of service we provide to our members is handled through more than 300 independent contractors.” The process of selecting an AAA contractor is somewhat like a courtship. “When we enter into a relationship with a contractor, we think of it long term,” explains Ryan. “We look for solid towers with excellent reputations. We conduct extensive background checks and go through a detailed interview process. Once we’ve determined they are a good fit with our club, we’ll bring them on in a backup capacity.” Drivers who work for contractors are held to the same high standards as AAAemployed drivers, and contractors are required to provide proof of meeting those standards. Future growth AAA Southern New England already serves more than 2 million members in its two-state area and continues to add more members each year despite very little population growth. The club’s decisions about where to operate club fleet vehicles are based on service quality and are always made in the members’ best interest. “Our goal is to have a uniform level of service across club territory,” clarifies Ryan. The towing fleet is constantly changing and undergoing upgrades, says Levesque. “We’ve purchased 33 Jerr-Dan units in the last 24 months and we expect to purchase additional units next year,” he says. “We project our truck requirements a full 10 months ahead in regard to which trucks should be retired and budget accordingly.” It’s all part of the organized processes the club has put in place over the years — processes that work for towing in high volumes. ■ The club’s impressively organized dispatch center handles approximately 1.5 million calls a year. VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 6 Jack’s Heavy-Duty ROTATOR THE B.I.C. JERR-DAN WORTH THE WAIT. O Jack Schrock Heavy-duty specialist “While Jerr-Dan did not rush to be the first manufacturer to offer a Rotator, it certainly is now offering the Best-In-Class Rotator on the ” market. 8 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 ctober 5 was definitely not like just any other day for it was the day Jerr-Dan introduced its new 60-ton Rotator to a handful of heavy-duty towers and key distributors from throughout the country. And, like the B.I.C. (Best-In-Class) Jerr-Dan carriers developed several years ago, the new Rotator offers the best lift, reach, stability, rotation and recovery of all the competitive models. In other words, this new Jerr-Dan Rotator is better than the best in every category. To further sweeten the pot, Jerr-Dan doesn’t just rate the boom as is the usual case with other manufacturers. Indeed, the entire unit is designed, tested and rated in conformance with SAE J2512, so when we say 60-ton, we mean every component is up to the task, not just the boom. T&R milestones In the matter of towing and recovery equipment, there have been some piv- otal milestones over the years that have advanced the T&R industry to the next level. Included are the introductions of the reversing winch, tow sling, hydraulic wrecker, wheel/underlift, composite body and airbag, to name the more obvious. And it seems these milestones come along about every decade or so and are invariably the work product of one manufacturer that “chooses” to advance the state-of-the-art; the one that chooses the “Best-of-the-Best.” The latest in this distinguished line of achievements is the new Jerr-Dan Rotator for lifting, rotating and recovery (winching) from the rear OR side. In fact, during the recent presentation to towers, the load cell confirmed a static side winching load in excess of 66,000 lbs., without any loss of stability or degradation of stabilizer footing. Exclusive features With the Rotator’s boom raised 51 degrees, the optional three- stage boom height is 40 ft. from the ground, and with the standard two-stage boom, the height is greater than 31 ft. The truck frame is chopped and removed at the end of the cab, and a fabricated “torsional-box” is substituted throughout the undercarriage of the Rotator, with incremental ratings up to 44 million in./lbs. RBM (resisting bending moment), which is an enormous Jerr-Dan exclusive. This torsional-box design has been wellproven through years of service in the fire apparatus industry. To achieve this increased rating, high-strength steel with ratings up to 130,000 ksi is used extensively throughout the machine, another exclusive feature of Jerr-Dan. Then, with the widest spread of 264 in. for front and rear stabilizers, combined with 26 in. of ground penetration, the truck and Rotator chassis is lifted completely off the ground, transferring the entire load through the stabilizer system and rear spades. Most importantly, these features mean that the truck chassis is merely a transport device and once on station, the stabilizers together with the rear spades, handle both the stability and load transfer of the machine. In other words, just one more exclusive feature of the Jerr-Dan Rotator. But, this is definitely not the end of the story as the boom reach is nearly 42 ft. compared to 34 ft. from the leading competitor, yet another Jerr-Dan exclusive, AND the load can be rotated the entire 360 degrees, another Jerr-Dan exclusive. While we could go on and on and on, when you consider this machine requires an 86,000-lb. GVWR chassis, you can come to realize the size and power of this new Jerr-Dan Rotator. To make all of this work to the fullest advantage, a 35,000-lb. planetary drag winch is offered, along with a super-heavy-duty tire lift upgraded from 14,000- to 25,000-lb. capacity to allow practical towing of those super loads by the wheels. The optional four-stage underlift gives this Rotator an effective reach of 176 in. from the tailboard, and other optional accessories enhance the performance of this exceptional behemoth. Stunned into silence Over a hundred people attended this recent product unveiling and demonstration, and there were virtually NO questions asked as the crowd remained silent and riveted as this machine was flawlessly put through its paces by Butch Van Dyken, heavy-duty operator for Stepp’s Towing Service of Tampa, the proud owner of unit No. 1. Also, with its greater reach, power and boom height, the Jerr-Dan Rotator is ideal for a number of commercial applications such as lifting and setting motors, pumps, machinery, cargo of all sorts and other special opportunities not at all associated with T&R. At this time, Jerr-Dan is scheduling production of this new Rotator for the year 2006 and beyond. And, a mere 45 minutes following the demonstration, the word on this new Jerr-Dan offering hit the wires and the calls have been coming in fast and furious ever since. Wait until it’s right While Jerr-Dan did not rush to be the first manufacturer to offer a Rotator, it certainly is now offering the “Best of the Best” or Best-In-Class Rotator on the market. For more information, contact your nearest heavy-duty Jerr-Dan distributor or call Jerr-Dan at 800-926-9666 for more details. Also, make plans now to attend the American Towman show in early December when this same machine will be on display for your personal examination. See ya’ soon! ■ VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 9 Product Profile 60-TON HEAVY-DUTY ROTATOR T he Jerr-Dan Rotator is the 60-ton, heavy-duty, pickup-anything powerhouse that you’ve been waiting for. The Rotator is the Best In Class for lift, reach, stability, rotation and recovery. Consider these advantages: • This muscle-bound beast has a tip load rating of 18,400 lbs. • Reach more during a recovery and get into position easier thanks to a working radius of nearly 42 ft. The leading competitor tops out at 34 ft. • No matter what the situation, extreme stability is provided by the widest double outrigger spread in the industry: 264 in. for front and rear. Setup on uneven terrain is easy with 26 in. of ground penetration. A unique scissors-style stabilizer design keeps loads closer to the ground and body when lifting over the outrigger’s extended beams. • Jerr-Dan chooses the highest-rated high-strength steel in a rotator application. Typically used in cranes, this steel offers the best weight-to-structural-performance factor. And a full 44 million RBMs. • You will experience unbelievable flexibility because you can now lift directly from the side. Run harder. And do more than you ever imagined with the new 60-ton heavy-duty Rotator. ■ ▼ Full-length high-strength “torsional box type” carrier frame • Uses high-strength alloy steel for maximum weight/structural performance, running full length from front outriggers to rear spades • Integrated hydraulic stabilizer system • “Torque box” style turntable mount for maximum structural performance • 44 million in./lbs. (total) RBM ▼ Body • Modular bonded aluminum body shell with composite panels ▼ Under-lift System • 3-stage under-lift system with optional 35,000-lb. capacity planetary drag winch • Rated capacity: 53,000 lbs. retracted (17,000 lbs. extended) • Maximum reach from back of tailboard: 140 in. SUPERIOR DESIGN 10 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 THE TOUGHEST MATERIALS ANYTHING BUT S TA N DA R D WRECKER ▼ High-strength alloy fabricated construction booms • Rated capacity: 120,000 lbs. retracted (44,000 lbs. full extended) or 120,000 lbs. retracted (26,000 full extended) • Available in 2- or 3-section booms • 360° rotation • Boom elevation operating range: 0°-51° • Maximum hook height at 51°: 40 ft. • Maximum working radius at 30°: 36 ft. (at horizontal: 41 ft. 10 in.) • Available with dual 50,000- or 60,000-lb. rated capacity planetary winches ▼ Hydraulic stabilizer system (front and rear outriggers and rear spades) • Low-profile dual front and rear 3-stage lowmounted (cantilevered box with telescoping beam) outriggers allow load to be kept close to ground and body when lifting over the outriggers extended beams • The outrigger system’s large footprint area (112" x 264") provides excellent lifting capacities over the front, side, and rear quarters • The outrigger system and carrier box frame are designed to drag loads over the side with the recovery boom horizontal, up to 60,000 lbs. horizontal pull • The four outrigger pads are designed as spades that will bite into the ground to give high holding ability • Outrigger system designed for 12-in. stored ground clearance and 26-in. ground penetration allows minimal cribbing under the outrigger pads for uneven terrain • Rear stabilizer spades for rear recovery THE FIRST JERR-DAN ROTATOR Jim Stepp, owner of Stepp’s Towing in Tampa, Florida, is the proud owner of the first Jerr-Dan Rotator. “We’ve been working closely with Jerr-Dan for several years to develop this rotator,” Stepp explains. “And Jerr-Dan has been so impressive in how they went about developing this truck. They interviewed not only me and my drivers, but also a host of other towers — to see what it was we all wanted to see in a Jerr-Dan Rotator. They used our suggestions and took the time to get it right and develop the ultimate wrecker.” Stepp’s Towing is an expert at heavyduty towing. The company currently owns two competitive rotators, and its drivers use them every day to right overturned and loaded cement trucks and tractor trailers on busy roads. The towing company also owns a fleet of Jerr-Dan equipment. “Jerr-Dan already makes a great wrecker. We are confident that this Rotator will be the best in the market,” he adds. “They have a truck to be extra proud of here and we will market it well for them.” ■ Business Management Equipped to SUCCEED Putting your best (truck) forward. By Cheri Ellison-Carroll, president/CEO of Ellison’s Towing Inc. Y ou have probably asked yourself this question several times in your towing career: “Why should I buy a new truck when the old one is paid off?” After all, it’s all profit from here on, isn’t it? The answer is a resounding NO!! At Ellison’s Towing, we used to think the same way, but after conducting a little factual accounting of truck expenses, we found that the opposite was true! Let me share with you our experience. At one time, our truck fleet age averaged 7.5 years old. The oldest was 13 years old, with more than 300,000 miles. But they were paid for! So, we thought, it was nothing but money, fun and games from there on. Well, it was money all right, paid out by us. Fun and games? Yeah, it was REAL fun attempting to run calls while the trucks were in the shop. We found that any savings we were seeing in not having a truck payment was more than offset by the cost of that truck’s repair bill. But that’s not the biggest loss. That figure is the money you lose for every hour a truck is in the repair shop. Do you know how much revenue your trucks bring in per hour? Know your number A rule of thumb in our industry is that a truck should generate a minimum of $8,000 per month to keep you in business. This, of course, is adjusted depending on the type of operation you run and the prevailing wages and other expenses unique to your geographical area. In our area, for our own business, the number is closer to $10,000. So dividing the $10,000 into 200 hours (average) of operation per month, I came up with $50.00 revenue per hour that each of our trucks was scheduled to bring in. Even ONE day (10 hours) of downtime, plus parts and labor for repair, would almost equal a bank payment! And a one-day turnaround is practically unheard of for any major truck repair — it usually takes three to five days for transmission, engine or differential work. Needless to say, these figures were shocking to us. We looked at what new trucks would cost monthly. Then we looked at warranties for major components, both free and extended. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that we could buy a new Ford truck with a basic powertrain warranty for next to nothing, and we could purchase extended warranties (up to seven years/100,000 miles) for a little extra. And if we bought a vehicle powered by Caterpillar, Cummins or with an Allison transmission, their extended warranties were phenomenal. We made the decision to go forward and over the next three years we started replacing our aging fleet with new Ford trucks and new wrecker beds. The make of beds? Jerr-Dan, of course! After much study on all different brands, we concluded that only Jerr-Dan was truly interested in constantly improving their line of products. There were many other manufacturers that were still making and selling what they did 20 or more years ago, and had little to no interest in evolving with new technology to match the ever-changing world of towing. The difference has been like night and day. All our drivers who have been fortunate enough to receive the new trucks with Jerr-Dan beds consistently tell us how impressed they are with how user-friendly the Jerr-Dan equipment is, and how everything just seems to “work” great, making their job easier and more productive. To workers who are paid based on how much they can produce, this is very important to them, as well as us. Rapid response time is the key We are constantly looking for ways to play beat the “response time clock.” Rapid response time has been and always will be the No. 1 prerequisite to delivering extraordinary customer service. This year we have maintained an average response time of 18 minutes. We could not realize this response time if our equipment was breaking down or it was difficult to use. It used to be a constant frustration for our drivers who were held to a high standard of rapid response when their equipment was constantly breaking down. Thanks to Ford and Jerr-Dan we have extinguished that impediment. Equip for efficiency Once you have arrived in record time at a job, it is vital that you do everything you possibly can to get the customer back on the road in warp speed. My management team is fanatical about equipping our trucks for efficiency. For more than 25 years, Ellison’s Towing has provided air jacks and air guns to maximize performance and prevent injury. Again, this is where the JerrDan beds fit so perfectly. Ease of use and minimal maintenance was a prerequisite. We find the greaseless beds and minimal amount of movable parts a huge plus. Reliability and quality of construction was also an absolute deal breaker. We found the whole package that allowed us to achieve extraordinary service. The benefits have been wonderful. The trucks have been reliable and only in the shop for scheduled maintenance. The new Jerr-Dan wrecker beds and flatbeds (carriers) have been outstanding. Our trucks are on the road each and every day making money with no problems. We are not losing customers because of truck repairs. Plus, we have the assurance that if anything major does happen, it will be repaired with no additional costs to us by the manufacturer. There is also the “seven-second” first impression rule: You have only an initial seven seconds when you meet someone to make a favorable (or otherwise) impression. And new trucks and wrecker beds will do it every time! It’s truly a “win-win” situation. Of course we spent a little extra money making the trucks look as good as they do. The paint, lettering and trim showcase these trucks the way they deserve to be. We constantly rank No. 1 in truck and driver appearance in our area. The reason — we place these objectives high on our list and take them very seriously. Until we implemented the “Shine BEFORE You Roll” off our lot daily inspection system, our trucks never quite reflected our 5-Star image. Now, you can’t catch us without presenting the WOWfactor image to go along with our WOWfactor equipment, which all adds up to our WOW-factor service. No, I still don’t like making truck payments. I’ve never enjoyed that. There’s just something psychologically satisfying about owning something free and clear. However, in the towing business where we make our living rescuing people that have experienced some type of breakdown/accident, it just makes professional and financial sense to have new, dependable and profitable equipment. It is our very lifeblood. ■ Footnote: When Jerr-Dan invited us to compose an article for this issue, they said we could write on any topic that we felt compelled to present. Brent and I both initially declined the offer because we are very busy at this time of the year preparing for the winter season. However, after we received this invitation we decided that we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the Jerr-Dan equipment we purchased this year. We thought this would be a great forum to do just that. Brent, my husband and manager, researched the field extensively and Jerr-Dan won our vote of confidence hands down. We are pleased to be able to share our experience with such genuine enthusiasm. We assure you that our comments and this article were unsolicited. For more information on the topics covered in this article, contact Cheri Ellison-Carroll at 650-934-0844 or visit Ellison’s Towing online at www.ellisonstowing.com. Three of the newest in the fleet are this Jerr-Dan 21-ft. steel Shark dual-angle bed, 19-ft. aluminum Pioneer fixed-rail bed and a Self-Loader bed/tunnel box. All are mounted on 2005 Ford chassis (Self-Loader and Pioneer on F-550; Shark on F-650). 12 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 13 Industry News Jerr-Dan debuts Rotator Jerr-Dan debuted its new Rotator on October 4-5 to a select number of towers and distributors at an invitation-only, allexpenses-paid introductory event at the company’s headquarters in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Towers and distributors from all over the United States joined the company in unveiling the much-anticipated 60-ton wrecker. The two-day event began on a Tuesday evening with a welcome dinner, cocktail hour and opening remarks by Jerr-Dan management. Then Jerr-Dan pulled out the stops for Wednesday’s introduction event. The Rotator was “unveiled” to towers and put through a series of impressive test performances, including a demonstration of the low-profile stabilizers, many lift demonstrations and even a static side winching load demonstration in excess of 66,000 lbs. After lunch and a questionand-answer session, the event was rounded out with a factory tour. ■ Oshkosh truck’s unmanned vehicle completes grueling 132-mile course Collins and enhanced with a stereo vision navigation system developed by the Vision Labs at the University of Parma. Jerr-Dan president Jeffrey Weller welcomes towers and sets the tone for the two-day event. Opening dinner ceremonies provided attendees a chance to socialize before the next day’s Rotator introduction event. After dinner Bill and Marci Gratzianna of O’Hare Towing visit with Debra and Wayne Sullivan of Sullivan’s Garage. John Randjelovic, president and CEO of Pierce Manufacturing, shares a laugh with Jim Stepp of Stepp’s Towing and Gordon Godfrey of H.R. Runciman LTD. O Shown at right: An impressive demonstration, the Rotator lifts 52,100 lbs., as evidenced by the load cell meter at right. The event began by “unveiling” the Rotator and demonstrating its newly designed low-profile stabilizers. Wayne Sullivan, left, of Sullivan’s Garage chats with owner of the first Rotator, Jim Stepp. 14 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 Team TerraMax races to win Shown below: Master of Ceremonies, Jerr-Dan’s Weldon Wright, explains the features of the 60-ton wrecker. shkosh Truck Corporation and partners Rockwell Collins and the University of Parma, Italy, celebrated their robotic truck, TerraMax™, completing the DARPA Grand Challenge. The vehicle was one of five to complete the race. TerraMax is based on the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) truck platform built by Oshkosh Truck for the Marine Corps. It operates without a driver or remote controls, using a guidance system based on standard, yet rugged navigational computers, a sophisticated global positioning system, laser range-finders and a synthetic vision system. It can carry more than 7 tons off-road and was the largest entry in the Grand Challenge race. TerraMax’s navigational systems were designed and integrated by Rockwell Darkness to light TerraMax completed the 132-mile desert course with an unofficial run time of 12 hours and 51 minutes. The team was assigned a starting time more than two hours behind the first vehicle, and was “paused” numerous times by DARPA officials to accommodate disabled or slower moving vehicles on the course. As a result, daylight ended before TerraMax could complete the course on the first day. Even though TerraMax was capable of operating autonomously in the dark, race officials paused it in the middle of the desert — among snakes, scorpions and coyotes — until daybreak for the safety of the chase vehicle drivers. TerraMax idled in the desert overnight, setting off for the finish line at dawn. About five miles from the course’s end, this 8-ft.-wide defense truck passed through Beer Bottle Pass, with just inches to spare between its bumper and a 200ft. sheer cliff. TerraMax was the largest and widest vehicle to successfully navigate this narrow, treacherous mountain road, demonstrating the precision of the vehicle’s numerous sensing systems. The large Oshkosh truck crossed the finish line just after noon on Sunday, October 9, following more than 30 hours of continuous operation. “DARPA’s goal is to help take our troops out of harm’s way by fostering development of unmanned vehicles,” says Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Truck chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Completing the race spectacularly indicates how close we may be to making this a reality.” Up to the challenge Three years ago the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the research and development arm of the Pentagon, challenged robotics experts from across the country to develop an autonomous, driverless vehicle that could traverse a rugged, offroad desert course. After no vehicle completed last year’s 150-mile DARPA Grand Challenge, 195 teams entered the competition this year. TerraMax was Three levels of qualifying events narrowed the largest and the final field to 23. widest vehicle to DARPA Grand Challenge teams were successfully navgiven the race route igate Beer Bottle just two hours before the start of the race. Pass (a narrow, Team TerraMax memtreacherous bers then programmed the course coordinates mountain road). into their vehicle. “The development program associated with completing the Grand Challenge was rewarding in and of itself,” said Don Verhoff, Oshkosh executive vice president of corporate engineering and technology. “We gained immense knowledge regarding autonomous vehicle technologies that are viable in the rigorous military environment, and we are committed to moving this technology forward to aid the U.S. military.” For more information, go to www.terramax.com. ■ VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 15 Owner Profile CHANGING WITH THE TIMES A DIVERSIFIED FLEET OF TOWING EQUIPMENT HELPS THIS FLORIDA TOWER KEEP PACE WITH CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS. s a kid growing up near Sarasota, Florida, Randy Upman remembers middle-of-the-night towing runs he made with his dad. “He would knock on my bedroom door whenever he received those calls,” Randy Upman, president of Upman’s Towing in Sarasota, remembers. “I always wanted to go with him so I’d have all my clothes set out. He worked six days and six nights a week so other than Sundays, it was the only time I saw him. But ever since then, I knew this was what I wanted to do.” Ironically, towing wasn’t the initial bread and butter for the Upman family. In 1955, Randy’s father opened a gas station/garage business and reluctantly added towing as a secondary, but necessary, evil to support the service end of the business. However, by the early 1980s, those initial wage earners succumbed to towing. A 16 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 The mid 1990s ushered in another change when the elder Upman retired and Randy took over the reins. Today, Upman’s Towing has expanded to three Sarasota locations with five impound yards. In nearby Bradenton, Upman operates an additional terminal and impound yard. His fleet of trucks has also grown — from seven to 20, ranging in diversity and size from a 50-ton wrecker to a 21-ft. carrier. The majority — 12 of the 20 — are Jerr-Dan units. It just takes one Upman purchased his first Jerr-Dan in 1997 and has been relying on the brand exclusively ever since. “Compared to previous brands I’ve worked with, the Jerr-Dan towing equipment provides far less downtime and easier maintenance, which is important because we handle much of our own service,” he says. “It’s just an easier piece of equipment to use because there aren’t a lot of moving parts.” His most recent purchase was a 10-ton industrial transporter with a 24-ft. deck that he added just two months ago. With a 20,000-lb. deck capacity, Upman can easily move construction equipment and even boats. The heavy hitter in the fleet is an HDL 1000/530 50-ton Independent wrecker with four-stage underlift. It incorporates a built-in counterweight and an extra fuel tank for interstate incident management. “I added this truck a few years ago, and at that time, it was just the second truck of its kind built by Jerr-Dan,” says Upman. Some of his most frequently used trucks include several 21-ft. carriers which are in demand because new The fleet at Upman’s Towing includes both Jerr-Dan wreckers and carriers. A sampling is shown here, from the 50-ton and 14-ton wreckers to the industrial transporter to the Shark carrier. Inset: Randy Upman, owner, adapts his business to the city’s changing customer base. OWNER PROFILE four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles require them, and in many cases customers request them, regardless of vehicle type. “Customer demand is moving toward flatbeds,” he says. “That’s why I’ve gone to virtually all flatbeds except for a couple of wreckers. Everyone wants their vehicle transported on a flatbed. They feel it’s safer because they don’t understand the ingenuity of a towing system.” Upman maintains a few light-duty wreckers to satisfy the needs of recovery in tight spaces such as parking garages. “Our small wrecker is the only one within a two-county area that will fit into these areas,” he explains. “Other towing services have to turn down this type of business because they simply can’t maneuver their flatbeds in those places.” Always with an eye on the future, Upman anticipates adding a low-loading, detachable carrier for large construction equipment and high-profile trucks. He is also considering adding a self-loader. Currently he utilizes a competitivebrand self-loader, but would prefer to add a Jerr-Dan MPL40 to his fleet. “These types of trucks have become so popular and are especially beneficial to us,” he says. “In space-constrained areas that are very common here, a driver can pull in front of a vehicle Upman’s Towing Sarasota, Florida Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile: Wreckers: One HPL 6060/6084 light-duty wrecker One MDL 280/110 14-ton mediumduty wrecker with underreach One HDL 600/350 30-ton heavy-duty wrecker One HDL 1000/530 Series 50-ton independent heavy-duty wrecker with four-stage underlift Carriers: One 10-ton industrial transporter with a 24-ft. deck Seven Shark carriers with 19and 21-ft. beds Services • 24-hour roadside assistance • Light-, medium- and heavy-duty towing • Equipment transport • Vehicle storage VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 17 Customer demand is leaning toward flatbed carriers. Upman’s Towing is responding with carriers like this Jerr-Dan Shark with a 21-ft. bed. needing to be towed without tying up traffic. Plus, he never has to get out of the cab to hook up any cars. It’s also useful in our impound lots because we are constantly moving cars to make way for new ones and prepare the old ones for our bimonthly auctions.” Taking every call Diversity in truck types is important to Upman since he rarely turns down a job. “We handle a lot of towing and recovery that no one else wants to do,” he notes. “We focus on accommodating customers and making them happy. We strive to go above and beyond what is needed.” Certain aspects of Sarasota create some unique challenges that some towers simply don’t want to take on. For one, the city’s close proximity to water — the Gulf of Mexico, lakes and swamps — translates into underwater recoveries and removing beached and sunken boats and yachts. As a certified scuba diver, Upman can handle these specialty calls. Upman’s Towing was also in high demand last fall when a hurricane moved through Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda just 30 miles to the south. Sarasota is also a city that is rapidly growing. Space is at a premium, including parking spaces. “You’ll see a lot of tow-away zones here,” says Upman. “That means we move a lot of illegally parked and/or abandoned vehicles.” Abandoned and junk vehicles have become increasingly big business. On average, Upman junks about 50 cars every two weeks. That’s up from about 30 cars once a month just a few years ago. “There’s a lot of processing that goes along with this side of the business,” he says. “I have one employee who is dedicated to dealing with the impound lots. He evaluates what’s in the yard, who’s coming, who’s going, etc. There is constant movement of those vehicles. Sometimes they are handled as many as six or seven times.” Upman’s office manager, dispatcher and assistant handle critical responsibilities within the office. “I’d be lost without them!” he adds. In between specialty calls, Upman and his employees focus on the backbone of the business — car dealership service and city law enforcement. He also has contracts with the local U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS and the cable, phone and utility companies. “Any time any one of these businesses needs a vehicle moved, we get the call,” he says. Including the contract jobs, roadside assistance and accident/ recovery services, Upman’s Towing tows about 1,000 cars a week. “That number has certainly increased in the last five years,” he indicates. “I’ve had to buy more and more equipment to keep up with the pace of demand. Growth in this area is phenomenal. When I was growing up, everything east of I-75 was pretty rural. Now subdivisions are being built everywhere. We’ll have to continue to add equipment to keep up with that growth.” And Upman is changing with the times. “There’s no doubt in my mind that automakers are building better cars,” he says. “I’ve definitely seen a decline in the last five years in calls related to new car breakdowns so our focus has shifted to more service-related work such as lockouts and jump-starts. And with so much construction, punctured tires are pretty common. But we’ll continue to meet our customers’ demands, whatever they happen to be. As long as I’m in the towing business, that’s my goal.” ■ Randy Upman, center, owner of Upman’s Towing, and drivers left to right, Joe Smith, Wesley Gallimore, Alex Mink and Mike Spurlock, tow about 1,000 cars a week. VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 18 Eliminates Push-Pull Cable Actuation for TG Series PTOs. • Available for manual or automatic* transmissions. • Simple electrically controlled shifter uses hydraulic force to engage and disengage the PTO. • Low current draw during engage & disengage. • No current draw in the “ON” or “OFF” position. • Simple installation with pre-wired connectors and complete wiring harness. • Manual override connection provided. * Requires proper activation procedures as specified in the PTO owner’s manual. ® Muncie Power Products Muncie Power Products, Inc. Member of the Interpump Hydraulics Group General Offices and Distribution Center • P.O.Box 548 • Muncie, IN 47308-0548 • (765) 284-7721 FAX (765) 284-6991• E-mail [email protected] • Web site http://www.munciepower.com Drive Products, Inc.,Toronto, Exclusive Agents for Canada, ISO Certified by an Accredited Registrar Company News $100,000 PLEDGED TO HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF JERR-DAN UNIVERSITY IN SESSION The most recent session of Jerr-Dan University (JDU), held in September, offered new distributors and salespeople a unique look into the towing industry. The five-day session was broken down into two levels. Level 1 (2.5 days) was devoted to topics of interest to distributors and salesmen who are new to the T&R industry. Instructors Jack Schrock, heavy-duty specialist, and Denny Buhrman, product specialist, covered basic terminology as well as conducted several walk-arounds with the Jerr-Dan equipment in order to familiarize the students with major components. They provided an overview of the role of the T&R salesman, the cross section of his/her customers and reasonable sales expectations. An escorted plant tour was also included. Light-duty carriers and wreckers are a large part of Level 1 training. Time is equally divided between classroom and Students at the most recent JDU get a hands-on look at hands-on outside Jerr-Dan towing equipment. training. Jerr-Dan much the same way as Level 1, with wreckers and carriers are available to classroom and hands-on training, but each student, and instructors insist that geared toward heavy-duty wreckers. each student become sufficiently familiar JDU is typically held semiannually, with with the operation of each to allow schedules adjusted to fit demand. him/her to demonstrate and sell the The next JDU is scheduled for May equipment in the field. 1-5, 2006. Level 2 (2.5 days) was structured PIERCE DELIVERS TWIN PACK MULE HOSEBEDS Pierce Manufacturing Inc. delivered twin Enforcer pumper fire trucks equipped with Pack Mule ergonomic hosebeds to the City of Poquoson Fire Department, Poquoson, Virginia. Pierce, the leading North American manufacturer of fire and rescue apparatus, is known for its innovative safety technologies. The Pierce Pack Mule ergonomic hosebed hydraulically deploys a full-size hosebed to waist level. This new safety technology allows firefighters to pull or repack hose from ground level, rather than climbing to the top of the truck. The Pack Mule hosebed can minimize the risk of falls, prevent stress on joints and minimize stress on the heart. An independent analysis by an ergonomic expert indicates that using the Pack Mule can reduce spinal compression by 90 percent compared to a traditional hosebed. “Our department is very interested in keeping firefighters from having to climb to the top of the truck to repack hose,” says Poquoson Fire Chief Carl Ward. 20 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 “We’re a small department and believe the Pack Mule hosebed will help make our entire firefighting operations safer, as well as more efficient and effective.” John Randjelovic, president of Pierce, says, “The Pack Mule is an integral addition to our 360-degree approach to firefighter safety. Departments are realizing the benefits of keeping firefighters on the ground, which reduces the possibility of falls as well as minimizes stress.” In addition to the Pack Mule hosebed, each Enforcer pumper is equipped with TAK-4 independent front suspension, a Side Roll Protection system, a 500-gal. water tank, a 1,500-gpm Waterous pump, the Husky foam system, a 400-hp Cummins ISL engine, a 10-in. raised roof cab and a 19-in. extended front bumper. JERR-DAN APPOINTS NEW FACTORY SUPPORT REP Jerr-Dan Corporation recently welcomed Michael Cherry as the company’s newest factory support representative for the state of Florida. This position provides sales support, customer service assistance and spec’ing support to customers through Jerr-Dan’s distribution network. “We’re very pleased to have Mike Cherry join Jerr-Dan,” says Joel Amsley, Jerr-Dan vice president of sales. “Mike is a seasoned veteran with a perspective on all aspects of the towing industry, having been both a tow operator and Jerr-Dan distributor.” Michael Cherry was owner/operator of Cherry’s Towing in the Chicago area until 1978. He served as a towing equipment sales representative from 1978 to 1988 when he purchased King Automotive, a Jerr-Dan distributor at the time. Oshkosh Truck Corp. pledged a $100,000 contribution directed to disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina, considered the worst natural disaster to strike the United States in almost a century. “This is a time of immense need for millions of Americans in the Gulf Coast region,” says Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We’re gratified to be able to lend this assistance during this very difficult time, and our hearts go out to every- one affected by this terrible natural disaster.” Oshkosh Truck’s contribution will be divided between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army for immediate and long-term needs resulting from the hurricane. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying critical necessities to hundreds of thousands of victims left homeless. Donations can be made at www.redcross.org/donate/donate or by calling 800-HELP-NOW. The Salvation Army has launched one of the largest emergency disaster services relief efforts in the organization’s 125-year history, providing more than 150,000 Katrina refugees with shelter, food and water from Texas to North Carolina. Donations can me made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 800-SAL-ARMY. JERR-DAN TO CONTRIBUTE CARRIER BODY AT FLORIDA TOW SHOW Jerr-Dan will again contribute the carrier body for the Professional Wrecker Association of Florida’s (PWOF) raffle truck at the 2006 Florida Tow Show, held May 1214, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. This is the ninth consecutive year JerrDan has sponsored the raffle truck. In addition, Jerr-Dan and its local distributor, Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales, will co-host with Ford Commercial Truck the annual award dinner held on May 13 at the show. “Jerr-Dan is proud to support the towing professionals in Florida through our sponsorship of PWOF programs and events. We strongly believe in supporting the industry that we serve. By co-sponsoring the award dinner, we’re able to recognize excellence in towing and the important contributions that towers play in serving their communities,” says Jeff Weller, Jerr-Dan’s president. The body that Jerr-Dan will provide is a 21-ft. steel Rustler mounted on a Ford-supplied, low-cab forward chassis. The Jerr-Dan steel carrier includes an 8,000-lb. worm gear winch, emergency light package, 36-in. toolbox and a 3,000-lb. IRL wheel-lift. The chassis has a 19,500 GVWR, 4.5L V-6 200-hp diesel engine, 156-in. cab-to-axle wheelbase and a 35-gal. fuel tank. Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales is an exclusive distributor of the full line of Jerr-Dan wreckers and carriers. The company is headquartered in Atlanta with sales and service in Tampa, Fla. ADVERTISEMENT UPCOMING SHOWS Dec. 2-4 2005 American Towman Exposition Location Baltimore Convention Center City Baltimore, Maryland Date Show City Date Show Location City Date Show Date Show May 11-14, 2006 Florida Tow Show Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Orlando, Florida City May 31-June 3, 2006 CTTA Western States Tow Show Reno, Nevada June 3-4, 2006 Empire State Towing and Recovery Association Lake George, New York Mark your calendars and join us at the American Towman Expo at Booth #909!! Axle Caps AXLE COVERS FOR TOWING BUSES & TRUCKS • NO GASKET NEEDED • ACCESS HOLE FOR ADDING OIL • MODELS FOR EVERY MAJOR HUB • SETS AVAILABLE WWW.AXLECAP.NET 845-357-0829 VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 21 Show & Go What does YOUR look like? Partners Dan Hintz and Roy Lynn decided they needed a new truck, so they purchased this 2004 GMC 6500 21-ft. B.I.C. flatbed with a Duramax diesel engine, zero-degree wheel lift and built-in receiver for hauling a trailer. The vehicle is loaded with air tools, LED lights, four toolboxes, exhaust brake and four-way strobe package. Jerr-Dan This truck, owned by Anthony Aquilino, president of Universe Towing Inc., Bronx, New York, is dedicated to 9-11-01. The 2001 Ford F-450 is equipped with a Jerr-Dan HPL 35 wrecker and is driven by Uda “Junior” Lopez in the shadow of the “House that Ruth Built” (Yankee Stadium) and throughout the Tri-State area. Universe Towing is an NYPD-authorized highway tow service. Street rods and exotic cars are the business of Frank Donato and Liberty Performance, Finksburg, Maryland. The vehicle is a 2005 Ford F-650 Pro-Loader extended cab with a 26,000-lb. GVW. The deck is a 21-ft. aluminum fixed rail with a remote control winch. There are on-board air tools, dual 48-in. polished tool boxes and a 3,000-lb. wheel lift. The custom paint job was done by Jack of Arts, Ellicott City, Maryland. WOULD YOU YOUR RIG P LIKE TO SEE ICTURED HER E? Do you have an image of your Je you’d like to sh rr-Dan rig that are with reader s? Submit your ph otos via: E-MAIL to RunH This 2004 Ford F-550 XLT Super Duty with a Jerr-Dan B.I.C. 19-ft. steel rollback is owned by Rod Vest of Vest Towing & Auto Repair, Chillicothe, Ohio. 22 RUN HARD VOL.14, NO.4 NOVEMBER 2005 ard@cygnusb2 b.com (High-res photo s only. Hint: Set yo digital camera to take photos as ur large of a size and MAIL to Editor, Ruas many pixels as possible.) n Hard magazin e 1233 Janesville Av Fort Atkinson, W enue, I 53538 In addition to yo ur photo, tell us Jerr-Dan you ha what model of ve why you are su , what model chassis you have bmitting your rig and ! U.S. & Canada Jerr-Dan Distributor Listing ALABAMA Arab, AL Austin Hinds Motors Inc. 256-586-8161 Ozark, AL Stormins Inc. 334-774-7138 Miami, FL Rechtien International Trucks dba Wreckers Limited 305-888-0111 Riviera Beach, FL Rechtien International dba Wreckers Limited 561-882-9050 ARIZONA Tempe, AZ Todd Equipment, Inc. 480-557-8633 ARKANSAS Alma, AR Arkansas Truck Center 479-632-2650 Caraway, AR Cars, Inc. 870-482-3614 Pocahontas, AR Ward’s Wrecker Sales & Service 870-248-1000 CALIFORNIA Bell Gardens, CA Tow World Inc. 562-806-9155 Buena Park, CA Pacific West Towing Equipment Inc. 310-863-8821 Concord, CA Best Equipment 510-569-1288 Fontana, CA Gooding Enterprises, Inc. 909-357-7920 Fresno, CA Valley Wrecker Sales Inc. 559-485-1513 San Leandro, CA Tow World Inc. 510-430-9894 West Sacramento, CA Riverview International Trucks Inc. 916-371-3110 COLORADO Aurora, CO McCandless International Trucks of Colorado 303-739-9900 DELAWARE Selbyville, DE Danzi Brothers Inc. 302-436-2000 FLORIDA Jacksonville, FL Stover Sales Inc. 904-696-3496 Sanford, FL Rechtien International dba Wreckers Limited 407-321-8474 Tampa, FL Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales Inc. 813-626-2144 GEORGIA Smyrna, GA Atlanta Wrecker & Carrier Sales Inc. 770-432-0097 ILLINOIS Champaign, IL Prairie International 217-352-4187 Chicago, IL Chicago International Trucks 708-496-7500 Decatur, IL Prairie International 217-877-8411 Elmhurst, IL Worldwide Equipment Sales LLC 630-617-9848 Quincy, IL Prairie International 217-222-1518 Springfield, IL Prairie International 217-523-5631 INDIANA Elkhart, IN B & B Industries Inc. 574-262-8551 Greensburg, IN Hedinger’s Auto Care, Inc. 812-663-7885 KANSAS Wichita, KS Kansas Truck Center 316-838-3800 KENTUCKY Burlington, KY Tipton Auto Sales & Parts Inc. 859-689-4222 Richmond, KY Tebco of Kentucky 859-624-0653 Kansas City, MO KCR International Trucks Inc. 816-455-1833 Waddy, KY Peytona Garage 502-829-5263 St. Louis, MO Miller Brothers Inc. 314-752-5726 LOUISIANA NEBRASKA Gary, LA Southland International of Louisiana 985-876-3000 Omaha, NE Omaha Truck Center 800-777-2440 Harahan, LA Southland International of Louisiana 504-733-7711 West Monroe, LA Plunk’s Truck Parts & Equipment Inc. 318-388-4462 MAINE South Portland, ME Hews Company LLC 207-767-2136 MARYLAND Aberdeen MD JP Chevrolet 410-272-0300 Baltimore, MD Beltway International 410-247-5700 MASSACHUSETTS Lancaster, MA Crawford Truck Sales Inc. 978-534-1954 West Hatfield, MA G & S Industrial 413-247-9631 MICHIGAN Brandon, MS Magnolia Wrecker Sales 601-825-6400 MISSOURI Columbia, MO Select Truck & Equipment, Inc. 573-886-7886 WISCONSIN LaFarge, WI LaFarge Truck Center 608-625-4285 Milwaukee, WI Badger Truck Center 414-344-9500 North Las Vegas, NV McCandless International 702-642-8789 Wilkes-Barre, PA Wilkes-Barre Truck 570-823-0144 West Allis, WI Badger Truck of West Allis 800-553-1927 Sparks, NV Silver State International 775-685-6000 Windber, PA GAP Chevrolet 814-467-4596 NEW JERSEY SOUTH CAROLINA West Bend, WI Bob Fish PontiacCadillac-GMC 262-338-2235 NEVADA Hasbrouck Heights, NJ Nussbaum Sales Corp. 201-288-3885 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 Hornell, NY Elsenheimer Chevrolet 607-324-3330 NORTH CAROLINA MISSISSIPPI Columbia, PA Nussbaum Equipment Inc. 717-684-0189 Scenery Hill, PA ASCO Enterprises Inc. 724-945-5525 Stuart, NE Roy’s Auto 402-924-3211 Detroit, MI Santoro Inc. 315-526-1300 St. Paul, MN Twin Cities Wrecker Sales 651-488-4210 Parkersburg, WV Matheny Motor Truck Co. 304-485-4418 Marshfield, WI Mid State Truck Service Inc. 715-591-2591 Port Jefferson Station, NY Ramp Chevrolet Inc. 631-473-1234 MINNESOTA WEST VIRGINIA Collegeville, PA Mobile Lifts 610-489-1900 Greencastle, PA Mason Dixon Trucks & Carriers Inc. 717-597-9400 Auburn Hills, MI Fallsway Equipment Co. 248-340-2421 Muskegon, MI Port City Wrecker Sales 231-773-2001 PENNSYLVANIA Clayton, NC Eastern Wrecker Sales 919-553-4038 OHIO Akron, OH Fallsway Equipment Co., Inc. 330-633-6000 Toledo, OH ABCO 419-536-6123 OREGON Lyons, OR Santiam Enterprises 503-859-2793 Orangeburg, SC Smith Services Inc. 803-533-1585 Windsor, WI Badger Truck of Madison 866-846-0680 TENNESSEE CANADA Rockwood, TN Glenn’s Motors and Auto Parts 865-354-0622 TEXAS Buda, TX Wrecker Capitol 512-312-5655 Dallas, TX Coker Equipment 214-742-5221 Houston, TX RPM Equipment 281-590-1494 UTAH Salt Lake City, UT Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales 801-268-8850 VIRGINIA Manassas Park, VA Horton Truck and Equipment 703-530-7800 VERMONT Burlington, VT Charlebois Garage 802-862-6385 WASHINGTON Kent, WA Nelson Truck Equipment 253-395-3825 Calgary, Alberta Danco Equipment Inc. 403-253-6421 Charlesbourg, Quebec Plamondon Camquip LTEE 418-849-7575 Dorval, Quebec Del Equipment Limited 514-684-1760 Edmonton, Alberta Alberta Motor Association 780-430-5520 Edmonton, Alberta Danco Equipment Inc. 780-468-5151 Mississauga, Ontario H.R. Runciman & Co., LTD 905-625-7222 Moncton, New Brunswick Del Equipment Limited 506-857-4291 Regina, Saskatchewan Danco Equipment Inc. 306-721-9575 Surrey, British Columbia Danco Equipment Inc. 604-888-0513 Tacoma, WA Northwest Equipment Sales & Service 253-922-7581 Call 800-926-9666 for information on your nearest authorized Jerr-Dan Distributor. 23 VOL.14, NO.4 RUN HARD NOVEMBER 2005 RUNHARD is sent to you compliments of PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Lebanon Jct., KY Permit #246