VEHICLE RETRIEVER VEHICLE RETRIEVER - Jerr-Dan

VOLUME 15, NUMBER 1 | MARCH 2006
www.jerr-dan.com
An Oshkosh Truck Corporation Company
FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL
TOWING DURING
CRISIS PAGE 4
MORE THAN A
TROPHY WINNER
PAGE16
THE REVOLUTIONARY
SIDE LOADING
VEHICLE RETRIEVER
10
PAGE
Comment
BETTER AND BETTER
EVERY YEAR
W
ow! That’s the most
appropriate word we
can think of to sum up
this most recent American Towman
Expo. The exhibits, the attendees,
the sessions — it just gets better
every year. And so do we!
The latest introduction we
debuted on the show floor was the
Side Loading Vehicle Retriever
(SLVR). An engineering marvel
that’s revolutionizing the towing
industry, the SLVR can retrieve vehicles in less than
We welcome 45 seconds from
the tightest spots.
Its unique side
your insights
lift mechanism
into our industry allows the operator to approach a
and your
vehicle, securely
lift and place it on
contributions
the retriever bed,
to our
and drive off
without every
magazine.
compromising
his/her safety,
damaging the retrieved vehicle,
holding up traffic or inconveniencing owners of surrounding vehicles.
All towing functions are performed from the interior of the cab.
And its compact design allows the
SLVR to take up only one traffic
lane, making it ideal for use on narrow streets the world over.
Many of you checked out our
new engineering marvel at the
show. For those of you that weren’t
able to, or want a more detailed
look, turn to Page 10-11. Or visit
“
”
our website
at www.jerrdan.com.
The SLVR
is scheduled
to be available for
production
later this
year. Keep an eye out for more
information about the SLVR — we’ll
update you soon.
Our new Rotator was also displayed on the Baltimore show floor.
We continued to gather feedback
from you and your responses were
overwhelmingly positive. “I want
one” and “It’s our next heavy-duty
purchase” were two comments we
heard frequently.
Many of you came to the show
with a purchase in mind! We
enjoyed speaking to you about our
new Rotator and SLVR at the show.
See the faces (maybe yours!) of visitors to our booth in our American
Towman Expo roundup on Page 20.
Keeping in line with introductions, we want to alert you to a new
section in this issue’s Run Hard
magazine: “Who’s Who?” and
“In the Military” on Page 22.
Do you have a loved one in the
military that you would like to
honor? Send us their picture and
information and we’d be happy to
publish it in an upcoming issue.
As always, we welcome your
insights into our industry as well as
your contributions to our magazine.
Jeff Weller
President
FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL
Contents
4
JERR-DAN
OWNER PROFILE
Adapting to a changing marketplace is
an absolute necessity for this New
Orleans towing company.
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
SHOW & GO
What does your Jerr-Dan look like?
JACK’S HEAVY-DUTY
The Jerr-Dan quality story.
PRODUCT PROFILE
The Side Loading Vehicle Retriever.
COMPANY NEWS
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Time spent on initial design controls costs.
JERR-DAN OWNER PROFILE
Even though you’ll see these trucks
take home pageant trophies, they are all
hard at work on Connecticut roads.
COMPANY NEWS
What makes Jerr-Dan different?
INDUSTRY NEWS
American Towman Expo roundup.
WHO’S WHO?
IN THE MILITARY
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, © 2006 Jerr-Dan Corporation
Volume 15, Number 1, March 2006. For Canada: Agreement
Number 40064547.
RUN HARD
VOL.15, NO.1 MARCH 2006
3
Owner Profile
TOWING
DURING
CRISIS
ADAPTING TO A CHANGING MARKETPLACE
IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR THIS
NEW ORLEANS TOWING COMPANY.
I
Rudy Smith,
left, and his
brother Ronnie
aren’t going
anywhere.
They are
observing the
ever-changing
New Orleans
market and
adapting their
towing
company to
serve those
needs.
4
RUN HARD
VOL.15, NO.1
t is said by many that in times of
crisis, the strong persevere. This
is certainly the case for Rudy
Smith of Rudy Smith Service, Inc. As
the owner of one of the largest towing companies in New Orleans, his
company has seen its share of crisis,
as well as perseverance, in the last
few months.
Before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and flooded the
city of New Orleans, Smith’s familyowned company employed 32 people and operated with a 24-truck
fleet. The 22- by 20-mile metropolitan city of a million people kept the
company busy. Business was good.
MARCH 2006
Then Hurricane Katrina flooded
the city of New Orleans. Business,
and life, changed drastically for
everyone.
Planning pays off
Prior to the hurricane landfall,
Smith Services implemented a predetermined, and practiced, emergency
evacuation plan. The plan required
each tower to drive an assigned company truck (with his personal vehicle in
tow) to a secure location north of the
city. Each driver was familiar with the
plan and left with a cash stipend, fuel
card and alphanumeric pager. Trucks
were equipped with GPS systems.
“We are a company that operates
by written policies,” explains Rudy
Smith, owner. “Hurricanes are common in our area. Our proactive
emergency recovery plan protected
our trucks from initial storm damage
and allowed us to get back into
operation quickly.”
The company’s office buildings
didn’t fare as well. The least amount
of damage was to the main office
building, which was flooded with
14 in. of water. The other three
facilities received 6 to 8 ft. of water.
One facility, housing more than 200
stored cars, lost its roof.
Despite the devastation to its facilities, the company never stopped
towing. “We never lost processing or
dispatching abilities,” Smith explains.
Before the storm, the company utilized remote dispatching and the
capability continued after the storm.
The aftermath
While the city was closed for
three weeks, Smith and his staff set
up temporary headquarters in
Donaldsonville, Louisiana (60 miles
west of New Orleans). As each tower
was called back to the company, he
was asked to pick up supplies: fuel,
generators, building materials and
storage containers. “We also fully
serviced each truck, knowing we would
go into crisis mode when the city was
reopened,” Smith recalls.
Towers were allowed into the city on
September 3 to assist the local utilities.
Massive amounts of debris had to be
towed away so utility crews could pump
water out of the city and rebuild substations to restore power. The process is an
ongoing one and as of this writing, 40%
of the city still remains dark.
Five months after the storm, Rudy
Smith Service is operating with a staff
of 14 employees. “Almost all of our
staff lost their homes,” he explains.
“They were forced out of the city and if
better-paying jobs were available, they
took them.” Speaking of pay, Smith has
had to double the wages of all his drivers just to compete with the market.
“New Orleans has quickly become
one of the most expensive cities in
which to live,” he says. “Despite limited
housing and supplies, there is no labor
Devastation is prevalent in New Orleans and the recovery work is endless. Pictured
here, an abandoned car is towed with an HPL 35. In the background, the storage
building is one of many that sustained visible storm damage. The damaged streets
also make towing challenging.
force here. Fast food restaurants are
offering a $5,000 signing bonus so
imagine what I have to pay towers.”
Of the 24 trucks in service before the
storm, eight have been placed out of service — not due to damage, but rather nonreplacement decisions. “We have trucks
currently waiting on drivers,” Smith says.
The trucks the company is utilizing
work hard. Towers are working 12-hour
shifts on four- to five-day rotations.
“Our trucks are running long hours;
they aren’t receiving the maintenance
they should; they are operating around
water, yet they are hanging on. We’re
very pleased with our Jerr-Dans.”
Smith is optimistic for the future of
New Orleans. “I think this city will be
part of something special, but it will be
a long time before it arrives.” ■
OWNER PROFILE
Rudy Smith Service Inc.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Wreckers:
One HPL 6000 light-duty wrecker;
two HPL 35 light-duty wreckers
Carriers:
Six standard-duty steel rollback
carriers, two with a 21-ft.
bed/independent lift and
four with a 19-ft. bed/wheel lift
Services
• 24-hour roadside service
• Light-, medium- and heavy-duty
towing and recovery
• Vehicle storage
VOL.15, NO.1
RUN HARD
MARCH 2006
5
Show & Go
What does YOUR
look like?
Jerr-Dan
George Parashis drives
this Jerr-Dan Pioneer
Series carrier for Bill’s
Towing in Novato,
California. The carrier
sports a 19-ft. aluminum
bed and incorporates a
2004 GMC C5500 chassis.
Since purchasing the
Jerr-Dan, Bill’s Towing
receives a lot of calls to
transport exotic cars,
like Sammy Hagar's car
pictured here.
The graphics on this Jerr-Dan HPL35 are that of Oregon
State University. The truck is owned by Newhouse and
Hutchins in Portland, Oregon, and makes regular
appearances at Oregon State football games.
John Litwak of J. L. Towing in Southwick, Massachusetts, customized his favorite HPL 6000
wrecker with a unique warrior theme. The graphics were completed by Richard Markham
Art. The award-winning truck includes a flamed-out broom, air tanks and cones. It has
40 strobes, 110 marker lights, a remote camera, four television screens, a PlayStation and
a Kenwood sound system with three amps and 14 speakers. The interior has customized
leather seats with the company name engraved into the leather, an undercarriage neon
package, wireless tow lights and customized floor mats and mud flaps.
David Richard of Dave’s Tow and Transport in Oakham,
Massachusetts uses his Jerr-Dan Pioneer Series carrier with 19-ft.
aluminum fixed-rail bed for heavy tasks like hauling this
9,700-lb. John Deere JD-350-B dozer.
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
ard@cy
This Jerr-Dan Steel Cougar HPL60 is Wreckmaster equipped and ready
for anything the Northwest has to offer. Mounted on a 2005 Ford
F-550 chassis, the truck belongs to Chuck Milne at Loop Hi-Way Towing
in Gresham, Oregon.
6
RUN HARD
VOL.15, NO.1
MARCH 2006
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This Jerr-Dan HPL 3500 light-duty
wrecker is owned by Dale
Mahoney of Mahoney’s Towing in
Highland, Indiana. Mahoney’s
Towing has been family owned
and operated since 1969 and
Dale, along with the rest of the
crew, takes pride in all their
equipment. This wrecker rides on
a 2005 Ford F450 XLT chassis.
Turnpike Plaza Towing, operated by
Martin Petroleum, has been a
provider of towing services for the
Florida Turnpike for the past 10
years. The towing company handles
the towing services for AAA and the
Florida Highway Patrol as well as
road ranger services for the DOT.
Turnpike Plaza Towing has a fleet of
21 carriers and wreckers including
this MPL40 on a Ford 550 chassis.
David Smith, a tow operator for the
company, was nominated for a hero
award at the Baltimore Tow Show.
Jack’s Heavy-Duty
QUALITY
STORY
THE JERR-DAN
A
Jack Schrock
Heavy-duty specialist
“There’s a lot to
s you will note, throughout this
particular issue of Run Hard
we are presenting the quality
story at Jerr-Dan and how it consistently
benefits the tower.
Job shops fabricate one-of-a-kind
wreckers. Even though they may all
share the same nameplate, literature
and appearance, there can be remarkable differences from one to another.
For example, when a critical part
fails and requires replacement, it is not
uncommon to learn that the replacement
part does not fit OR do the job.
Unfortunately, this is the very nature of
“custom” fabrication, for each piece is
fitted to the whole and no two “identical” pieces are really . . . identical.
the Jerr-Dan
quality story that
goes well beyond
the luster of
”
expensive paint.
8
RUN HARD
VOL.15, NO.1
MARCH 2006
Be sure to consider
the real truth
Now, what this means to the buyer is
that replacement parts for such wreckers must be adapted (reworked) in the
field to fit and operate. This writer
knows of several such fabricators who
do not even try to provide replacement
parts, telling their customers instead to
source repair parts either at their local
hardware store or blacksmith shop.
Taken to a ridiculous extreme, one
fabricator provided a piece of metal to
prop up the boom to keep it from dropping the load when it leaked down.
These are the sorts of things that the
buyer must consider when making a
purchase — a fancy paint job will just
create an illusion of performance and
reliability that simply doesn’t exist.
Indeed, the fabricated wrecker is often
more “massive” in appearance than the
manufactured counterpart and usually
weighs more too. On a trip to Poland a
couple of years ago, I observed a large
heavy-duty wrecker from a distance that
appeared to be a monster with swing-out
stiff legs fore and aft on each side.
However, up close and personal, those
stiff legs were merely swing-out body
panels fabricated of sheet metal, rendering them of little value, except to create
the illusion of mass and strength.
Ratings reality
And we can’t speak to this without
once again referring to wrecker ratings
because they too can be misleading. As
you know, our industry is not regulated,
leaving each fabricator or manufacturer
free to determine ratings.
I remember a time some years ago
when we were involved with a state bid
for several 40-ton wreckers and had to
participate in a trial in order to qualify
for the bid.
A fabricator-competitor appeared with
what looked to be a 16- to 20-ton wrecker and was quickly questioned by the
examiner. The representative responded
by saying that he could call their shop
and they would forward a new nameplate with the necessary 40-ton rating, or
any other rating, the state might want.
Unfortunately, wrecker ratings can
too often be a product of illusion
instead of performance.
“If it looks big and tough, we’ll give
it a high rating,” says one such fabricator. And, even for those that do not
conform to the recently enacted SAE
voluntary standards, it is important to
note the wrecker rating is based entirely
on the structural strength of the boom
and not on the performance of the total
rig. This, of course, invites heavier
booms on smaller wreckers as yet
another deception that creates the illusion of performance that isn’t there.
Hi-tech design
Enough already! Let’s talk about
Jerr-Dan. In simple terms, we design
through a sophisticated computer
process (Computer Assisted Design or
CAD), which takes the guesswork out of
the process and expedites the tentative
conclusion.
A prototype (test unit) is then handmade and thoroughly tested to verify
both performance and strength up to
desired values.
In the old days, this was destructive
testing because the unit was often
destroyed before the design could be
validated. Today, again thanks to modern computers, we place load cells at
critical points which provides data on
stresses and possible areas of weakness.
Perhaps a redesign is in order and,
if so, we go back to the starting point.
However, there must be structural limits
to everything. We seek to make sure the
components are compatible because it
makes no sense to have a 50-ton boom
lifted by a hydraulic system that fails at
well below the boom rating.
(Remember, the strength of the chain is
measured by the weakest link.)
After the design, development and
validation testing of a prototype, it is
time to document the entire unit and
that means preparing detailed engineering drawings for each and every
piece and assembly. It is these drawings
that Jerr-Dan later uses to make the various components.
When we make a piece-part, those
parts are made for inventory to support
a later assembly process. When we
make a piece-part we make dozens,
hundreds, and even more. They all go
into storage bins to be used to assemble
particular wrecker models identical to
each other in every way.
Producing for
quality assurance
We do not hand-fabricate a piecepart to fit only one wrecker because
that is a throwback to job-shop fabrication discussed earlier.
At Jerr-Dan we mass produce pieceparts for quality assurance and cost
control, both of which are very important to the buyer. So, if and when you
should ever need to replace a piecepart, Jerr-Dan can pull the particular
engineering drawing and make a duplicate part that will precisely fit your
wrecker, regardless of age. And that
alone assures the buyer of consistent
performance no matter how old his
Jerr-Dan wrecker might be.
There’s a lot to the Jerr-Dan quality
story that goes well beyond the luster of
expensive paint.
Verifiable design, testing, manufacturing and production-assembly all translate
to predictable performance in the field
day in and day out for years to come.
You don’t buy a big wrecker to work
on. You buy a big wrecker to work for
you. But, when you’re ready to hang it
all up for fishing in the Bahamas, your
Jerr-Dan wrecker will be worth much
more than the competition because it
continues to do all of these things
longer and better than the rest.
See ya’ soon! ■
Every Jerr-Dan heavy-duty wrecker is put through a detailed design, testing, manufacturing and productionassembly process that translates into predictable performance.
VOL.15, NO.1
RUN HARD
MARCH 2006
9
Product Profile
SUPERIOR
FUNCTIONALITY
SIDE LOADING
VEHICLE RETRIEVER
L
ateral design at its best — the Jerr-Dan Side
Loading Vehicle Retriever is a lean, mean, get-itdone-in-under-45-seconds recovery machine.
Whether it’s towing illegally parked cars from hard-toreach spots or repossessions—45 seconds or less is all it
takes for the swift and nimble Side Loading Vehicle
Retriever to get the job done. That’s less than 45 seconds to
approach a vehicle, securely lift and place it on the retriever bed and drive off without ever compromising the operator’s safety, damaging the retrieved vehicle, holding up
traffic or inconveniencing owners of surrounding vehicles.
Nothing stops the Side Loading Vehicle Retriever from
accomplishing its mission; not even the lack of clearance in
the front or rear of the vehicle to be retrieved. Even in the
tightest space, it easily zips in to haul off vehicles weighing
up to 6,000 lbs. from either side of the truck.
Operator security and safety is a top priority with this
revolutionary retriever because all towing functions are
performed from the interior of the cab. Compact in design
and operation, it only takes up one traffic lane, making it
ideal for use on narrow streets the world over.
A 7-in. LCD screen hooked up to four waterproof cameras aids the operator in lining up the forks with the vehicle for safer and more accurate retrieval. With fork arms
that lift the vehicle by the tires,
body damage is eliminated,
along with the need to enter
the vehicle. Best of all, the
entire towing process can be videotaped to serve as documentation in refuting damage claims.
It’s time to sideline the competition with a smarter, faster,
more effective vehicle retrieval system from Jerr-Dan. The
new Side Loading Vehicle Retriever gives new meaning to
the old expression “time is money.” The speed with which
recoveries are performed by this marvel of engineering
exponentially increases efficiencies and revenue potential.
Do more than you ever imagined — with the new Side
Loading Vehicle Retriever from Jerr-Dan. ■
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VOL.15, NO.1
MARCH 2 0 0 6
▼
•
•
•
•
▼ High-strength, lightweight boom assembly
for up/down travel
• Traverses up and down on
mast assembly
• Heavy-duty cam rollers and
ultra-high compression
pads help raise and lower
vehicle
• Powered by a single
vertical mounted 3-stage
telescopic hydraulic cylinder
• Electrical and hydraulic
systems housed within the
boom structure
Reinforced-strength chassis substructure platform
Integrated outrigger/stabilizer system with four vertical mounted hydraulic cylinders on fixed outrigger arms
Independent outrigger control for left and right side to adjust to road surface curvature
Mast assembly track/guide rail system
Fork rests and stops
▼ Front and rear drop arms
• Attached to boom structure
• Arms spread open to reach
around various tire sizes
• Most pinned joints employ
“no-lube” bearing technology
for a long maintenancefree life
▼ Dual-side facing cameras
• Mounted on both sets of fork arms for
better alignment with wheelbase of vehicle
• LCD quad-split screen display
▼ Forklift grade steel fork extension system
• Integrated gear rack allows for side-to-side traverse and vehicle retrieval
from either side of the truck
• Hydraulic powered rack and pinion drive for compactness and efficiency
• Steel pads in combination with cam followers provide complete support of forks
AGILE, SWIFT
▼
•
•
•
•
Heavy-duty single mast assembly for left/right traverse
Traverses side-to-side on the chassis substructure by way of heavy-duty flange cam rollers
Powered by hydraulic rotary/orbit motor via a rack and pinion gear drive
Efficient power utilizing the least number of components
Slide pads mounted on mast for improved performance, maintenance and appearance
INNOVATIVE
DESIGN
AND
PRECISE
▼
•
•
•
•
•
•
▼
•
•
•
Hydraulic front-drop arms adjustment
Adjustable front arms allow pickup of vehicles with wheelbases ranging from 88"
Flange cam followers for forward/aft adjustment
High-strength slide pads for reaction support
Hydraulic drive system
Direct mount PTO/pump hydraulic supply system
Eight cylinders and five hydraulic motors
Single-function operation at any one time — safer, less complicated operating procedure
On/off type DO3, proportional control electro-hydraulic control valves
Custom manifolds provide built-in hydraulic locking and relief protection for easier installation and maintenance
Compact hydraulic reservoir with return and supply filtration
VOL.15, NO.1
RUN HARD
MARCH 2006
11
Company News
JERR-DAN INTRODUCES FLEXIBLE
FINANCING PROGRAM FOR TOWERS
Jerr-Dan Corporation and Oshkosh
Capital have developed a new financing
program, called FlexFinancing, to aid
towers in purchasing new equipment.
Jerr-Dan’s FlexFinancing loan and lease
packages are tailored to individual needs,
while providing low rates. In addition, the
application process is easy, and streamlined loan documents make the financing
process a seamless part of buying a
Jerr-Dan carrier or wrecker.
“This new financing program gives
towers the flexibility and competitive rates
to buy equipment when they need it,”
says Jeff Weller, Jerr-Dan president.
“We’re excited to bring the same flexibility and innovative solutions to financing
that Jerr-Dan offers its customers,” says
Scott Ney, Oshkosh Capital president.
FlexFinancing is available exclusively
PIERCE RESPONDS TO HURRICANE
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. and its
dealer organizations located near the
devastation caused by hurricanes
Katrina and Rita have responded by
providing fire trucks, equipment, food
and other emergency supplies to help
meet crushing needs in the wake of the
two deadly hurricanes.
Pierce deployed Contender® brand
pumpers to some of the hardest hit
areas where numerous fire trucks had
been destroyed or badly damaged. The
first vehicle to arrive was part of a
United States Navy order that was fully
outfitted in 36 hours and put to work.
“Pierce knows how important it is to
communities and first responders to
have their equipment up and running to
respond to emergencies,” said John
12
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VOL.15, NO.1 MARCH 2006
UPCOMING SHOWS
Date
Show
Location
City
May 11-14
Florida Tow Show
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Orlando, Florida
Date
Show
May 20-21
New Hampshire
Tow & Trade Show
Location Chappell Tractor Company
City
Milford, New Hampshire
Randjelovic, president of Pierce
Manufacturing.
One dealer deployed a trailer filled
with emergency supplies to the hardest
hit portions of southern Mississippi within 48 hours after hurricane Katrina hit.
Discovering damaged and destroyed
fire trucks in southern Mississippi, the
dealer also deployed a mobile service
center to the area, manned by a team
of employee volunteers.
JERR-DAN IS OFFICIAL RECOVERY
VEHICLE OF BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Jerr-Dan Corporation has been
named the official recovery vehicle of
Bristol Motor Speedway. Under the fiveyear agreement, seven new pieces of
Jerr-Dan towing equipment
will give fans and competitors an added measure of
confidence during major
race events at the speedway and associated dragway.
Known as the “World’s Fastest Half
Mile,” the Bristol Motor Speedway is
home to NASCAR® Nextel Cup Series,
through Jerr-Dan and its authorized distributors. Oshkosh Capital is the financing
entity of Jerr-Dan’s parent company,
Oshkosh Truck Corporation. Oshkosh
Capital offers financing solutions
exclusively to customers of the Oshkosh
family of brands.
For more information, visit
www.jerr-dan.com.
Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series
events. Jerr-Dan towing and recovery
equipment will be used for dozens of
major racing events each year at the track.
For this year’s events,
four Jerr-Dan HPL 6000
wreckers and three 21-foot
steel RRSB carriers will be
on hand for recovery crews to use. The
carriers and wreckers are each mounted
on an Chevrolet Model 6500 and 5500
crew cab chassis with Duramax diesel
engine and Allison transmissions.
Date
June 1-3
Show
CTTA Western States Tow Show
Location Silver Legacy Resort & Casino
and Reno Event Center
City
Reno, Nevada
Date
Show
City
June 2-4
South Dakota Professional Tow
Association 2006 Tow Show
Rapid City, South Dakota
Date
Show
June 3-4
Empire State Towing
and Recovery Association
Location Ft. William Henry Resort
City
Lake George, New York
Date
Show
June 16-18
Wisconsin Towing Association
Annual Convention
Location Chula Vista Resort
City
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Visit our newly redesigned
website at www.jerr-dan.com
For wreckers that look better than the vehicles they tow,
Jerr-Dan relies on
Adhesives.
®
Heavy Duty Towing / Recovery Vehicle
Photo courtesy of Jerr-Dan: www.jerrdan.com
Brawny Trucks with Superb Automotive Finishes
A leader in the manufacture of recovery vehicles, Jerr-Dan
designs and builds wreckers that set new standards for
styling and aesthetics as well as performance. To produce
these lightweight, durable, truck bodies with aircraft quality
construction, the company uses Plexus Fiberglass Fusion Adhesives
on its newest models.
Advanced Adhesives Bond Dissimilar Materials
With the ability to bond engineered plastics, advanced composites,
metals, and dissimilar materials, Plexus Adhesives help designers
deliver weight reductions and improved performance without
sacrificing strength or rigidity.
Revolutionizing Vehicle Design and Manufacture
Plexus Adhesives speed and simplify production. They require
virtually no surface preparation, eliminate grinding and sanding,
cure rapidly at room temperature, and minimize dust and the need
for toxic solvents. They produce exceptionally strong bonds with
superior flexibility and resistance to impact, fuels and chemicals,
temperatures, UV, and cyclic loading.
© 2006 Plexus
For information, contact:
1-800-851-6692
info @ itwplexus.com
www.itwplexus.com
Business Management
At the Jerr-Dan manufacturing
facility, each aluminum/
composite wrecker body
panel is pound-for-pound
stronger than steel.
Designing
QUALITY
Time spent on initial design controls costs.
By Jack Schrock, Heavy-duty specialist
W
hether it’s widgets, wheelchairs or wreckers, quality, performance and cost are determined long before a product is manufactured and sold. Industry has long been divided into two basic camps: those that seek to
provide the highest possible quality at the
lowest responsible cost and those that seek to
create the illusion of such quality while selling the cheap stuff for the lowest cost.
The term quality also means product
innovation, design and manufacturing superiority. It’s easy to see that the cheap stuff
often doesn’t perform up to expectations
and is quickly lost in substandard performance, repair bills, downtime and most
importantly, the long-term (residual) value of
the equipment.
This article is about all of the above.
True quality lasts
In simple terms, one main difference
between a fabricator (blacksmith) and manufacturer is the quality of design, manufacturing and performance throughout daily use.
Let’s take this one step further to say that
initial quality and lower long-term cost go
together like ham and eggs. Too many of us
tend to think of total cost as only the initial
purchase price and, thus are tempted to
look only at cheap stuff, regardless of performance features, maintenance/reliability
and resale value. We are driven by price
alone, which almost always results in a
higher overall cost.
For example, Joe, the local pipe welder,
works at a nearby plant, but also does fabrication work on a part-time basis. Joe will
build you anything he can stick together
with a cracker-box welder. If you wanted
Joe to build a widget, he would probably
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VOL.15, NO.1
MARCH 2006
scrounge the needed known components
and figure a quick way to stick them together.
I remember a fellow who, just like Joe,
fabricated auto transport trailers and was
great at putting the pieces together, but
never took the longer view of developing a
new, more efficient design. In fact, he never
developed any design; he just copied the
other guy. In T&R we call this “polaroid”
engineering. In fact, everything he did was
fabricated from very rough sketches on
butcher paper (or even memory), and the
matter of long-term, reliable performance
was never considered. Thus, the buyer could
not be assured the finished transport would
make even a single trip without a failure,
much less last a lifetime. That equipment
didn’t cost much and was worth even less.
There’s another component engineers
call “designed obsolescence” — a way of
expressing the design life of the widget and
its components. Obviously, it makes no
sense to have one component last 20 years
and another last only three days. The
strength of the chain is determined by its
weakest link, so engineers seek to select
components that are compatible; components that will all last for a specified period
of time. Why install tires that cost a couple
hundred bucks each on a 30-year-old car
that’s having trouble making it to the next
stop light?
Over the years there has always been at
least one manufacturer in the T&R industry
that has consistently developed equipment
that will wear out several truck chassis
before giving up the ghost. In fact, we don’t
have to look very hard to find 50-year-old
wrecker equipment working everyday.
Obviously, the quality of this equipment is
supported by its long service life, perform-
ance in the field, reliability and higher
resale value.
Unfortunately, there is a downside —
the T&R Industry is nonregulated.
Manufacturing quality is left to the individual manufacturer, leaving the consumer to
discern the wheat from the chaff.
For example, compare the recently
introduced Jerr-Dan 60-ton Rotator to the
competition in terms of size, reach, stability,
features and quality, and you’ll see that
Jerr-Dan stands head and shoulders above
the rest. But, the comparison goes well
beyond the Rotator and we invite our readers to take the “challenge.”
Take the challenge
At Jerr-Dan we take the matter many
miles further down the quality road. Most
importantly, we initially design equipment to
be better than the best; to offer superior performance features; to be more reliable; to
require less downtime for routine maintenance and to recapture a higher percentage
of the original purchase price when it’s time
to trade. But this takes more development
time and money than most are willing to
invest. In fact, most even lack the manufacturing capability to produce equipment at
this level.
Take for example, the composite body
used on our medium- and heavy-duty
wreckers. This body was developed and
introduced before the competition even
knew the term. It cost Jerr-Dan big bucks to
do so, which is where others fear to go.
This body is actually two separate bodies. The first is made entirely of aluminum
Materials relate
to maintenance
Higher-tensile-strength steel is more
expensive and not routinely available in
the scrap yard, which often supplies the
fabricator or job-shop. So, what’s the
advantage? First you can get more
panels joined together by a bonding matestrength pound for pound with higherrial that flexes with torsional loads, thus
strength materials vs. low-tensile strength.
eliminating crazy-cracking or body fatigue. With more lower-strength material you
Then molded panels and doors are
achieve structural strength, but you’re
attached with torque screws to the alualso adding more undesirable weight.
minum body, providing a finished automoHave you ever checked on the curb
tive body appearance with “water-resistweight of a HD fabricated wrecker? That
ant” compartments. This composite body is
is an interesting trip to the scale house.
also pound-for-pound stronger than steel,
Using superior components and mateso weight is reduced. Then, there’s the
rials, Jerr-Dan has
question of an automotive
developed a number of
finish that lasts longer
self-lubricating
Some competitors connections that require
than the truck chassis.
And, doors that open
little, if any mainteseek to copy
and close with a klunk
nance. In terms of supeJerr-Dan
in
areas
(rather than the all-toorior materials, take a
familiar rattle/bang).
look at the 5-in. pin that
that are least
So what’s the tangible
connects the underlift
value of this body over the expensive, but none crossbar to the boom
competition? First, it does
copy us in the areas mechanism of our M/HD
a better job at less weight.
wreckers. With literally
that cost the
Next, forget about rusty
hundreds in daily use,
tools and chains because
not a single pin has
big bucks.
the compartments are
failed, and this is due
water-resistant with doors
to very expensive
that open and close securely, sealing the
bushings and pins that are designed to
compartments in the process. Automotive
close tolerances.
quality appearance is for the long term
The others use yesterday’s technology
because we all realize that a wrecker is a
that wears out on a regular basis — this
traveling billboard and a direct reflection
leads to lost time and expensive repairs.
on business. Since there is no crazyThere is so much more than this limitcracking, as in the case of a rigid-welded
ed space will allow us to discuss. For
body, there is also no rust to streak paint
example, Jerr-Dan uses fabricated booms
and/or no corrosion to eat away at the
on its larger wreckers instead of tubular
base metal, so repairing and repainting on
steel since superior structural ratings can
a regular basis is unnecessary. This saves
be achieved at much less weight. But,
time and money while keeping your
fabricated booms require expensive shop
wrecker on the job making money everyday. fixtures, manufacturing time and expense
“
”
while tubular steel can be bought from
the local warehouse and cut to length.
Electrical headaches have been
eliminated through the use of watertight
control panels and expensive plug-in type
connectors instead of cheap butt-splices.
Accessory loads are now switched
through relays, eliminating the sparking
and arcing, self-destructing switches on
the control panel. Impregnated graphite
sheaves expand as service lines are
loaded, which extends the service life of
both the wire and sheaves. Jerr-Dan has
also developed a tie-back system that
lasts beyond stretching a spring that
never returns to its original configuration.
And rear jacks with swing-away pads
and more . . .
These are all features that cost time
and money to develop, and more time
and money to produce, but there is a
giant payback to the buyer over the long
term. Some competitors seek to copy
Jerr-Dan in areas that are least expensive,
but none copy us in the those areas that
cost the big bucks.
Everybody has a purchased winch
and service line that will lift a modest
load. Everybody has a hydraulic cylinder
that will raise or extend a boom. But,
that’s where the similarity stops. If you
want assured performance with superior
features that provide a great return on
your investment day in and day out, then
shop Jerr-Dan first . . . for that is what we
endeavor to do, day in and day out.
Remember, cheap stuff actually costs
more in the long run because it doesn’t
work well, doesn’t last long, requires
more maintenance and, yes, when it’s
time to bail out, isn’t worth much either.
In fact, take the book price on the truck
chassis, add $20/cwt and you’ve got the
true resale value of the cheap knock-off.
It’s entirely your choice. ■
VOL.15, NO.1
RUN HARD
MARCH 2006
15
Owner Profile
EVEN
A WINNER
THOUGH YOU’LL SEE THESE TRUCKS TAKE HOME PAGEANT
TROPHIES, THEY ARE ALL HARD AT WORK ON CONNECTICUT ROADS.
on’t let the pageant-quality
custom paint job on these tow
trucks fool you — these are
working trucks. As a matter of fact,
each and every truck owned by Bill’s
Service of Stamford Inc. are hardworking towing vehicles.
The 32-truck fleet, including light-,
medium- and heavy-duty tow trucks
as well as service vehicles, are on the
go from morning until night, towing a
variety of vehicles within a 20-mile
radius of Stamford, Connecticut.
The trucks, nine of which are
Jerr-Dan, are dispatched from one of
the company’s three locations in
Stamford, Darien or Greenwich.
D
This HPL 6000
12-ton wrecker,
one of three in
the company,
took second
place in the
medium-duty
class of the
American
Wrecker
Pageant at the
American
Towman Expo
in Baltimore.
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All in the family
The family-owned towing and recovery operation is currently run by father
Bill Parker Jr. and sons Jimmy and Billy
III. Bill’s Service is a genuine family-run
company too — of the 12-employeestaff, more than three-fourths are related!
“We are a close family both in and
out of the ‘office,’” says Billy. It’s true
too. Spend any time in the bustling
Connecticut towing operation and you’ll
see for yourself. Uncles and cousins,
brothers and sons — they joke, they
laugh, they bicker — just like any other
family. But before all else (the laughing
or the bickering), the towing job always
comes first.
“You have to love this business to be
successful at it,” stresses Bill Jr. “It’s not
just a job; it’s our everyday life.”
“We’ve been in business since 1950
when my grandfather started towing
here in Stamford,” explains Billy. “I
grew up at this company, as did my
father, brother, uncle and cousins.”
Use what works
“We’ve relied on Jerr-Dan trucks for
as long as I can recall,” says Billy.
“They’ve worked very well for us in the
field and they also win trophies! We
plan to continue incorporating Jerr-Dan
trucks in our fleet.”
The company’s latest purchase, the
HDL 700/350 35-ton wrecker, is driven
by Billy. “It handles weight better than
our other heavies,” he says.
The 35-ton’s wheel lift also makes it
a more versatile truck. Many of the
company’s older trucks (non-Jerr-Dans)
aren’t equipped with wheel lifts. Wheel
lifts are a requirement to be on a rotation list, which forces the company to
dedicate two older trucks to each list.
Inset at right: Billy Parker III is proud of
his Jerr-Dan HDL 700/350 35-ton
wrecker. He enters it in many tow show
pageants; and he wins quite a few!
Heavy-duty towing is an integral part of the business at Bill’s Service. This Jerr-Dan
HDL 700/350 35-ton wrecker, mounted on 2205 Peterbilt chassis, and MDL
280/110 14-ton wrecker, mounted on a 2000 International chassis, are favorites.
The newer trucks with wheel lifts allow
just one truck to be dedicated to the list.
24/7 for all the departments and is on
call at least 16 days out of every month.
Police specialty
Bill and his family handle all types of
towing, from light-duty towing of the private passenger car to the heavy-duty
recovery of a jack-knifed semi.
Of the 50 calls the company handles
daily, commercial accounts and motor
clubs make up a good portion of the
business. The company also handles towing for private owners in the area.
“We’ve been in business for more
than 50 years — everybody knows who
we are,” stresses Billy. “Word-of-mouth
advertising has worked well for us.” The
company supplements with newspaper
ads, brochures and calendars.
The remainder of the towing/recovery
work consists of police towing for local
police departments. The company tows
A family future
“As long as we all keep having children (Billy is expecting his first child later
this year), we’ll continue on the familyowned path,” Billy jokes. Seriously
though, business is steady for the
Connecticut towing company and the
future looks bright.
Equipment is replaced every three
years, and according to Billy, it’s time for
a new light-duty truck. Another MPL40 is
the most likely choice.
“The MPL40 we have now allows us
to quickly and safely tow cars in the
cramped streets that are so prevalent
in our area,” he concludes. “And with
the population boom we’ve been
experiencing, I see the MPL40 becoming
even more valuable to our business.” ■
OWNER PROFILE
Bill’s Service of
Stamford Inc.
Stamford, Darien and Greenwich,
Connecticut
Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile:
Wreckers:
One HDL 700/350 35-ton
heavy-duty wrecker; one
MDL 280/110 14-ton mediumduty wrecker; three HPL 6000
light-duty wreckers; one MPL40
light-duty wrecker
Carriers:
Three standard-duty steel rollback
carriers, two with a 21-ft. bed and
one with a 19-ft. bed
Services
• 24-hour roadside service
• Light-, medium- and heavy-duty
towing and recovery (specializing
in the heavy-duty market)
• Full-service repair shop
• Vehicle storage
VOL.15, NO.1
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17
Company News
Jerr-Dan’s 600-ton press is used to make
frame rails for chassis that require
stretching. The entire stretch is done in
house to eliminate potential finger pointing.
What makes Jerr-Dan
DIFFERENT ?
The key areas of our
manufacturing facility
By Weldon Wright, Heavy-duty wrecker
product specialist
A
t the Jerr-Dan headquarters in
Pennsylvania, it has become a
common occurrence to bring
prospective customers to our facility and
tour them through both the carrier and
wrecker plants.
As the heavy-duty wrecker product
specialist, I customarily perform the wrecker plant tour. As I begin, I usually tell the
group that Jerr-Dan shares a number of
common manufacturing processes with our
competitors (cutting, welding, bending,
etc.). However, during the tour I speak
about processes unique to Jerr-Dan. For
those of you who have not been able to
join us on one of our tours, let me guide
you on a virtual tour of the Jerr-Dan manufacturing facility.
Efficient ordering
We are certainly proud of what we do
at Jerr-Dan. However, we are most proud
of what we do differently.
The first thing I point out is that Jerr-Dan
has incorporated JIT (Just in Time) strategies
in our manufacturing operations. The basic
elements of JIT were developed by Toyota
in the 1950s and became known as the
Toyota Production System (TPS).
JIT was firmly in place in numerous
Japanese plants by the early 1970s and
began to be adopted in the United States in
the 1980s. The management philosophy
behind JIT is to strive to eliminate sources of
manufacturing waste by producing the right
part in the right place at the right time.
Waste results from any activity that adds
cost without adding value, such as moving
and storing. JIT also reduces the need for
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MARCH 2006
excess inventory and increases the inventory
turnover rate. Product changes can happen more quickly because manufacturers
are not strapped by long-term inventories.
At Jerr-Dan the primary JIT strategy is
the implementation of a KANBAN inventory control and replenishment system. The
main advantage of this system is that it
bases replenishment on actual usage
rather then a forecasted usage such as
with an MRP system.
The KANBAN card triggers reorders
based on real needs and thus “pulls” inventory rather then “pushes” the ordering
process. KANBAN enables a more efficient
reorder procedure for components involved
in the manufacturing process.
On the cutting edge
We continue to stay on the cutting
edge by implementing LEAN manufacturing strategies in 2006. LEAN manufacturing methodologies are proven techniques
that have been utilized for years in the
foreign automotive industry. Today they
are finding resurgence throughout domestic board rooms and factories.
The recognized benefits of LEAN are
flexibility, agility, efficiency, velocity, and
most importantly, a direct link and
improved responsiveness to customer
needs and expectations.
This may seem complicated, and to
those not involved in manufacturing it is,
but the benefit for you is more predictable
deliveries, improved quality and dollars
available to add value to your purchase.
A virtual tour
Continuing with our tour, we enter the
manufacturing facility.
• Fabrication. Our first stop is the
600-ton press. Among many fabrication
functions, this press is used to make frame
rails for chassis that require stretching.
Unlike our competitors that farm out the
frame stretch process, we complete the
entire stretch in-house including fabricating new framerails.
This assures you not only of receiving a
wrecker with the proper rail RBMs, but
also eliminating potential finger-pointing
between two companies involved in the
same process.
• Laser cutting. Next we step in to
our laser cutting area where we have
three high-tech laser operations. Two
lasers work 24/7 with “lights out” capability by incorporating an automated
material storage and retrieval system.
Laser cutting technology is all about
quality and precision. Cuts are made with-
the unsurpassed success that it has.
out distortion and
degradation of the
• Paint. As we leave the body
metal, and the preciassembly area we will walk directly to
sion of cuts are to
another area unique to the industry —
within .005-in.
the paint finishing line.
repeatability. This
The 400-ft. $1.5-million conveyor
equates to the differspray paint system represents a significant
ence in an aftermarinvestment in our manufacturing operaket fender vs. an
tions. This multifunction finishing system
OEM fender on a car, allows for painting of each individual
in the event of a
component of the wrecker. It also transpanel replacement on
ports the parts through a conversion wash
your body.
to remove oils and dirt from the metal.
This enhances paint adhesion and elimiShot
blast•
nates the chance of fish eye in the paint.
ing. As we continue
After the prime coat and topcoat have
through the process
been applied, the parts are cured with
lane, we come to
both infrared and convection to assure the
another process unique to Jerr-Dan —
solvents have been released, and solvent
shot blasting.
pop does not occur. Seem sophisticated?
Domestic steels are often received with
Well it is, and we believe this is the fit
excessive scale and rust. To assure the
and finish that you should expect from
steel is properly prepared, Jerr-Dan ping
your investment.
blasts parts of various shapes, configuraOh, and by the way, don’t look for this
tions and states of completion to ensure a
system at the comsmooth surface
petitor’s facility
necessary for a
because that work
superior finished
is contracted out.
product.
There are many
• Body
other interesting
assembly and
areas in the Jerr-Dan
bonding. Our
manufacturing facilinext stop is the
ty to visit — autobody assembly
mated and manual
and bonding
weld cells, assembly,
area. This will
Jerr-Dan’s 400-ft. $1.5-million conveyor
frame stretch, engimost likely be
spray paint system allows for painting of
neering and R&D —
your most
each individual component of a wrecker.
each of these areas
enjoyable stop
shares an important
on the tour.
piece in the manufacturing process.
You will certainly not see this operation
However, we would like for you to
at competitive facilities, because not only do
have the opportunity to experience what
they not make a composite body, but they
separates Jerr-Dan from all the rest.
also do not make their bodies at all. To see
Please come visit us and see for yourself
the fitting and bonding of the aluminum
how the processes we do differently add
substructure, and the mounting of the comvalue to your towing investment today
posite panels will make you truly underand for years to come. ■
stand why our patented body has enjoyed
Testimonials
“
The facility was organized and clean.
I was impressed by everything about it.
I appreciated seeing the entire manufacturing process from start to finish. It was
interesting to see a wrecker manufacturerd, starting with raw material and
finishing with paint. The laser cutting
area was particularly impressive. And the
bonding process — the way the body
itself was made — was also unique.
Mike Bolin
”
Bob Bolin’s Wrecker Service
St. Louis, Missouri
“
The entire plant was very organized in
a very logical layout. I enjoyed following
a truck through manufacturing, from raw
metal to fabrication to paint. The paint
booth was fascinating. Basically parts
went in one end on a trolley and came
out the other end complete. The laser cutting area was also impressive. Precision
is important; it means that I don’t have to
worry about replacement parts fitting. I
know Jerr-Dan parts will fit.
Marci Gratzianna
O’Hare Towing
North Lake, Illinois
”
“
Jerr-Dan knows how to treat its customers AND potential customers. While
the plant is smaller than competitors’
facilities, it is just as effective. The laser
cutter with a rack of different shapes and
types of metal was very impressive.
Seeing a truck worth of parts go into the
paint booth on rolling carts and come out
the other end in paint was great. The fact
that hidden items like cylinders and
wheel-lift end tubes receive complete
paint just adds to the Jerr-Dan aspect of
quality control. Seeing the outer panels
placed over the inside body panels was
unique, and the fact all this work is done
in-house is awesome. Everyone at JerrDan should be complimented on a great
product. I hope to place my second order
for a heavy-duty Jerr-Dan soon.
Kevin Farthing
Waffco Inc.
Lake Station, Indiana
VOL.15, NO.1
”
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MARCH 2006
19
Industry News
American Towman Expo
More than $100 million in towing business was transacted or influenced on
the show floor of this year’s expo. Were you there?
G/J Towing displays its 50-ton
HDL 1000 in the Jerr-Dan booth
The Jerr-Dan crew was
in full force at this
year’s American
Towman Expo, held last
year from December
2-4. The show floor
included products from
more than 170
exhibitors, including
the new Jerr-Dan
60-ton Rotator.
Jerr-Dan’s newest
carrier will revolutionize
the towing industry. The
Side Loading Vehicle
Retriever (shown here
in these three photos)
can retrieve parked
cars from hard-to-reach
spots in 45 seconds or
less. With production
scheduled for this year,
watch for more on the
new Side Loading
Vehicle Retriever.
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The MPL40 light-duty integrated wrecker was
equipped with a motorcycle attachment at this
year’s show. The MPL40 is available with a
variety of wheel-grid packages.
Gennaro-Jay Angiulo started G/J
Towing, Inc. in 1989 with one tow
truck. Business took off immediately and two weeks later he realized
he needed another truck just so he
didn’t lose work! Sixteen years
and 70 tow trucks later the folks at
G/J Towing and Recovery, Inc. of
Revere, Massachusetts, wanted to
build the ultimate conventional
stick boom tow truck. Knowing
that Jerr-Dan’s HDL 1000 is “Best In
Class” in reach and lift capacity
made the choice simple.
After careful consideration and
planning as to how they would
build their Jerr-Dan 50-ton wrecker, they selected a 2006 Kenworth
T-800 cab and chassis loaded with
all the goodies. The unit is powered
with a 550-hp Cat engine, 18-speed
transmission, 20,000-lb. front axle,
46,000-lb. rears under Hendrickson
Air Ride Suspension with a com-
bined wheelbase of 328 in.
The T-800 was mated with a
Jerr-Dan HDL 1000 50-ton unit
comprised of a 3-stage recovery
boom and a CB565 4-stage coach
boom dressed with the new
25,000-lb. tire lift. Loaded to the
gills with every piece of recovery
equipment imaginable, this wrecker is sure to retrieve whatever it is
after, all while illuminated with
more than 50 LED Tomar strobe
lights and dressed with more than
128 sq. ft. of polished stainless steel.
For G/J Towing, this behemoth
will be used primarily for heavyduty recoveries and accidents.
Despite its pageant-quality
appearance, the Jerr-Dan is first
and foremost a tow truck. It will
tow a wide variety of heavy
cranes, boom trucks and fire
engines that dwarf its smaller
siblings.
See you at this
year’s American
Towman Expo on
November 17-19,
2006.
Who’s Who
Who in the industry have
you seen out and about?
Weldon Wright, Jerr-Dan product
specialist, center, with Judy and Jim
Stepp of Stepp’s Towing, Tampa,
Florida.
Ted Negoshian of Negoshian’s Towing,
Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, left,
John LaMarche, Crawford Truck Sales,
Lancaster, Massachusetts, center, and Phil
Hammond, Jerr-Dan regional manager.
Jeff and Kristie Ripley, Paddack's
Wrecker Service Inc., Westfield, Indiana,
with Weldon Wright, right.
Weldon Wright, center, with Steve
Webb of Webb’s Towing, Lakeland,
Florida, left, and Jack Russell, Atlanta
Carrier & Wrecker Sales,
Atlanta, Georgia.
Susan Orr from Randy’s Rapid Express,
Rancho Cocomunga, California, with
Weldon Wright.
Bruce Pollock, right, Laser Pipes,
Grandview, Missouri, with Denny
Buhrman, center, and Paul Saffelle,
Jerr-Dan product specialists.
DO YOU HAVE A
MILITARY THAT LOVED ONE IN THE
YOU WOULD
HONOR HERE? LIKE TO
In the Military
We salute Airmen 1st Class
Michael Stockslager, who is currently
stationed in England. Michael is the
son of Mike and Pam Stockslager of
Greencastle, Pennsylvania.
Mike Sr. is employed at Jerr-Dan as
a parts representative.
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VOL.15, NO.1
MARCH 2006
We at Jerr-Dan
want to honor
United States mi
litary — they ar the men and women of the
e pr
day. Please shar
e your photos wi otecting our country every
th us.
Su
bmit your phot
os via:
E-MAIL to RunH
ard@cy
gnusb2b.com
(High-res photo
s only. Hint: Set
yo
digital camera
to take photos as ur
large of a
size and as ma
ny pixels as po
MAIL to Editor, Ru
ssible.)
n Hard magazin
e
1233 Janesville
Av
Fort Atkinson, W enue,
I 53538
In addition to yo
loved one’s name ur photo, please supply us wi
th your
, branch, rank,
where they are
stationed (if ap
propriate) and
their relationship currently
to you.
U.S. & Canada Jerr-Dan Distributor Listing
ALABAMA
Arab, AL
Austin Hinds Motors Inc.
256-586-8161
Ozark, AL
Stormins Inc.
334-774-7138
ARIZONA
Tempe, 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
Bell Gardens, CA
Tow World Inc.
562-806-9155
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
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
Miami, FL
Rechtien International Trucks
dba Wreckers Limited
305-888-0111
Riviera Beach, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
561-882-9050
Sanford, FL
Rechtien International
dba Wreckers Limited
407-321-8474
Tampa, FL
Atlanta Wrecker &
Carrier Sales Inc.
813-626-2144
GEORGIA
LOUISIANA
NEVADA
Gary, LA
Southland International of
Louisiana
985-876-3000
North Las Vegas, NV
McCandless International
702-642-8789
Greencastle, PA
Mason Dixon
Trucks & Carriers Inc.
717-597-9400
Sparks, NV
Silver State International
775-685-6000
Scenery Hill, PA
ASCO Enterprises Inc.
724-945-5525
West Bend, WI
Bob Fish PontiacCadillac-GMC
262-338-2235
NEW JERSEY
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Truck
570-823-0144
Windsor, WI
Badger Truck of Madison
866-846-0680
Windber, PA
GAP Chevrolet
814-467-4596
CANADA
Harahan, LA
Southland International of
Louisiana
504-733-7711
West Monroe, LA
Plunk’s Truck Parts &
Equipment Inc.
318-388-4460
Smyrna, GA
Atlanta Wrecker &
Carrier Sales Inc.
770-432-0097
MAINE
ILLINOIS
MARYLAND
Champaign, IL
Prairie International
217-352-4187
South Portland, ME
Hews Company LLC
207-767-2136
Aberdeen MD
JP Chevrolet
410-272-0300
Chicago, IL
Chicago International Trucks
708-496-7500
Baltimore, MD
Beltway International
410-247-5700
Decatur, IL
Prairie International
217-877-8411
MASSACHUSETTS
Elmhurst, IL
Worldwide Equipment
Sales LLC
630-617-9848
Quincy, IL
Prairie International
217-222-1518
Springfield, IL
Prairie International
217-523-5631
INDIANA
Auburn Hills, MI
Fallsway Equipment Co.
248-340-2421
Detroit, MI
Santoro Inc.
315-526-1300
MINNESOTA
Richmond, KY
Tebco of Kentucky
859-624-0653
Waddy, KY
Peytona Garage
502-829-5263
NEW YORK
TENNESSEE
Albany, NY
P.A. Ruth Automotive
518-456-0356
Rockwood, TN
Glenn’s Motors and
Auto Parts
865-354-0622
Hornell, NY
Elsenheimer Chevrolet
607-324-3330
NORTH CAROLINA
KANSAS
Burlington, KY
Tipton Auto Sales &
Parts Inc.
859-689-4222
Orangeburg, SC
Smith Services Inc.
803-533-1585
West Hatfield, MA
G & S Industrial
413-247-9631
MICHIGAN
St. Paul, MN
Twin Cities Wrecker Sales
651-488-4210
MISSISSIPPI
Brandon, MS
Magnolia Wrecker Sales
601-825-6400
MISSOURI
Kansas City, MO
KCR International Trucks Inc.
816-455-1833
St. Louis, MO
Miller Brothers Inc.
314-752-5726
NEBRASKA
Omaha, NE
Omaha Truck Center
402-935-2442
SOUTH CAROLINA
Spotswood, NJ
Giancola Motor Car Corp.
732-251-4422
Port Jefferson Station, NY
Ramp Chevrolet Inc.
631-473-1234
Muskegon, MI
Port City Wrecker Sales
231-773-2001
KENTUCKY
Shrewsbury, NJ
Circle Truck Center
732-741-3130
Lancaster, MA
Crawford Truck Sales Inc.
978-534-1954
Greensburg, IN
Hedinger’s Auto Care, Inc.
812-663-7885
Wichita, KS
Kansas Truck Center
316-838-3800
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Nussbaum Sales Corp.
201-288-3885
Clayton, NC
Eastern Wrecker Sales
919-553-4038
OHIO
Akron, OH
Fallsway Equipment
Co., Inc.
330-633-6000
Canal Winchester, OH
Bob McDorman
Chevrolet Inc.
614-837-3421
Toledo, OH
ABCO
419-536-6123
OKLAHOMA
Claremore, OK
Tri-State Wrecker Sales Inc.
918-342-4244
OREGON
Lyons, OR
Santiam Enterprises
503-859-2793
PENNSYLVANIA
Collegeville, PA
Mobile Lifts
610-489-1900
Columbia, PA
Nussbaum Equipment Inc.
717-684-0189
TEXAS
Buda, TX
Wrecker Capitol
512-312-5655
Dallas, TX
Coker Equipment
214-742-5221
Houston, TX
RPM Equipment
281-590-1494
West Allis, WI
Badger Truck of West Allis
800-553-1927
Charlesbourg, Quebec
Plamondon Camquip LTEE
418-849-7575
Dorval, Quebec
Del Equipment Limited
514-684-1760
Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta Motor Association
780-430-5520
Mississauga, Ontario
H.R. Runciman & Co., LTD
905-625-7222
Moncton, New Brunswick
Del Equipment Limited
506-857-4291
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Del Equipment Limited
604-941-6241
UTAH
Salt Lake City, UT
Rocky Mountain
Wrecker Sales
801-268-8850
VIRGINIA
Manassas Park, VA
Horton Truck and Equipment
703-530-7800
WASHINGTON
Tacoma, WA
Northwest Equipment Sales
& Service
253-922-7581
WEST VIRGINIA
Parkersburg, WV
Matheny Motor Truck Co.
304-485-4418
WISCONSIN
LaFarge, WI
LaFarge Truck Center
608-625-4285
Marshfield, WI
Mid State Truck Service Inc.
715-591-2591
Milwaukee, WI
Badger Truck Center
414-344-9500
Call 800-926-9666 for information on your nearest authorized Jerr-Dan Distributor.
VOL.15, NO.1
RUN HARD
MARCH 2006
23
RUNHARD is sent to you
compliments of
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Lebanon Jct., KY
Permit #246