South West Tow Operators Association asked that I write an editorial for the association website. However, rather than write about VTS Systems management software, I think it more important to help inform Texas towers and SWTOWOP members about the next wave of technology changes that will both directly or indirectly effect the towing industry.
I recently wrote the article for Tow Professional magazine, it informs the reader about what is needed for tomorrow’s internet or “cloud based” technology. However, before you give up on your reliable PC based management software, there is much to consider.
Not all internet connections or software applications (Apps) are created equal; make sure your internet connection is reliable and capable of providing the bandwidth required for tomorrow’s business demands. In addition, are you ready to give up control of your company data to an unknown cloud warehouse server? Internet security is also a very important consideration, recent attacks on Target and Macy’s should make us all cautious.
Read more: New Technology Changes that effect the Towing Industry
A new federal mandated rule that would implement a national driver database detailing drivers' history of failed or refused drug and alcohol tests has been approved by the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 27.
It now awaits final publication in the Federal Register where it would be published as a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). We expect the NPRM to be published by mid-February and we will be providing members and clients an analysis of the proposed rule. This is just one of many steps that began about 15 years ago.
The motor carrier industry has asked for such a program since random drug testing truck drivers went into effect in 1980 for larger carriers and 1995 for all other carriers and owner-operators.
The main road block to the adoption of this clearinghouse database has been organized labor (Teamsters) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that have almost single-handily kept the program at bay all these years. The ACLU is also opposed to hair follicle testing, claiming that hair shape, size, formation, etc., varies by race, sex, age, position on the scalp, hair color and texture, specifically noting that dark hair is more likely to test positive for a drug and additionally African-Americans are more likely to test positive than Caucasians.
The rule would establish a database of commercial drivers of vehicles in excess of 26,000 lbs. that have failed or refused to take a mandated DOT drug or alcohol test. The rule will also require motor carrier employers to upload and review such information during an interview or the hiring process.
There is a fatal flaw in this program as it is administered today, which allows drivers to jump from company to company or even more disturbingly, become an owner-operator and then jump from consortium to consortium allowing them to always stay ahead of the program's intent. This clearinghouse will hopefully put an end to this problem.
AADT , Rudy Navarrete
With the New Year in full swing we want to remind all of our clients to start watching your mail for "Random Notices" you must be prepared year-round to receive these notices as, that's the intent behind the program's definition of "random." Please note that each Notification has instructions on what should be done. Here are a few helpful suggestions to make your drivers' collection quick and easy:
1. When you see that the driver selected is no longer employed by you or out on extended leave call or email (your rep) us to report this.
2. When you notify the driver of his selection please make sure to also let them know what type of test(s) they have been selected for. For example: Driver XYZ Selection for a Drug and BAT (breath alcohol test).
3. Hand driver/employee the Form 111 (passport) and pre-printed Federal Custody and Control Forms (DOT only) if you have them available. If you do not have a pre-printed CCF form the majority of our collection sites carry our Federal Custody and Control Forms except for LabCorp.
4. Find a collection site in your area by going to AADT website: www.aadrugtesting.com and enter your zip code. You will be given a printable listing by distance from your zip and important details about the collection site such as the hours of operation and whether they offer both drug and alcohol testing. There is in fact a feature on the website that only searches sites that offer both tests closest to your zip.
5. It may be worth calling the site to make an appointment to expedite a collection.
6. Make sure to advise the driver/employee that they must return the Employer Copy of the CCF forms that are given to them at the time of the collection. Please fill out the test notification and return it via fax or email scanned image to AADT.
7. If they bring back the DONOR copy, then make a copy for your files, and return the DONOR copies to DONOR. Try to get the Employer copy if you can.
AADT , Rudy Navarrete
towPartners announced today that it has recently partnered with Michelin to be the primary supplier for the towPartners tire program. This program brings a simple process to towPartners members, allowing them to setup an account directly with Michelin and to receive the towPartners pricing on their purchases. This new member pricing is very aggressive and is expected to add significant value to the towPartners membership as well as to provide new sales for Michelin through the partnership.
The new tire program being offered to towPartners members is geared toward member companies with fleets who purchase tires from local dealers. Using the program, towPartners members receive tremendous discounts on the tires they purchase and still have access to the local dealer network for delivery of tires as well as mounting, balancing and other tire related services. Participation is limited to current towPartners members whose fleets represent hundreds of thousands of tires in use every day.
"towPartners continues to work hard to deliver quality benefits to our members," stated Jeffrey Godwin, COO of FTI Groups who operates towPartners. "We are proud to offer a program associated with such a dynamic leader in the tire industry. The towPartners Michelin program will offer towPartners members the full line of Michelin tire products at a great savings. We are thrilled to offer this kind of quality benefit that will represent real savings to our members as we work 'for the industry."
Read more: TowPartners Announces New Michelin Tire Program
With so many states regulating towing rates, why not profit from money left on the ground?
Twenty-one years ago I opened an auto body repair shop. We were growing every day, picking up work from insurance companies, fleet companies, and regular walk-in traffic. We were hiring and utilizing other towing services to pick up and deliver our customers’ vehicles to our repair shop weekly. While sitting there looking at the books one day, I realized that there was something missing in my business that could be very profitable.
TOWING: After researching the towing industry, I realized what I needed to do in my area. I purchased a rollback and a wrecker and got the wheels rolling. We got on all rotations in our area and picked up every customer we could, not by cheap rates, but by providing great quality service. Once the towing business started to grow, I purchased a heavy wrecker and started to work accidents, transport and recovery of 18-wheelers and heavier equipment. Though I so loved the process and profits of towing, I was still looking for more. After working several large truck wrecks, I began to notice I was still missing out on a very profitable business.
ENVIRONMENTAL: The environmental business goes hand in hand with the towing business. You are already on scene, so let’s make some money! Most every accident scene, be it a car, truck, 18-wheeler, dump truck etc., has some type of leakage or spillage. Whether it’s fuel, oil, gas, anti-freeze, or even the load itself, it has to be cleaned up and disposed of properly. You can start in the environmental industry with a small budget, and it will provide you great rewards, financially. Most of the time, towing companies are putting absorbents down and scooping them up, throwing money away. Let me show you how to turn what you are throwing away into money. Not only will this allow you to utilize your employees, trucks, and equipment more efficiently, but will also make a nice profit while doing so. You can target so many areas in the environmental business and use it to help draw customers to your towing business as well. Whether it is an insurance company, a gas and oil company, a trucking company, or just your regular everyday customer, your own environmental business will reward you in so many ways.
Darryl Birdsong
Birdsong Environmental Solutions Incorporated
501-940-2978
Get Rid of the Grease Board and Scratch Pads
By: Jeffrey Godwin
In the towing industry we often overlook the fundamentals of operating a solid fleet. Though it is true we are typically more mechanically skilled and rarely cannot haul our own equipment when it is down, there is no reason to settle for reactive maintenance where we just fix what breaks. With simple fleet maintenance solutions, we can gather information in realtime from the drivers in our vehicles and then make decisions that can reduce downtime and repair costs. This is not a hypothetical case; fleet maintenance software saves companies money by reducing downtime, providing insight into expenses and through interactive preventative maintenance and vehicle inspection.
It seems many companies with small fleets often ignore tracking of fleet maintenance. This may be common practice and may even be acceptable in industries where the vehicle is not actually performing the work but in towing, we have too much at stake to not know what is happening in our fleets. Simple fleet maintenance software packages are available that can track all of your fleet costs and report back to you with real information to validate your gut feelings. Most packages are capable of managing and monitoring everything in your fleet from the heaviest rotator down to your personal truck, skid steers, trailers, or even generators and compressors. If it needs maintenance, many packages can track it. If it has wheels, fleet maintenance software is a must.
The benefits of quality software in this area of your business are significant. Using these tools a company can expect to track its vehicles, manage parts inventory, identify over or underutilized fleet components, schedule maintenance, track costs, monitor warranties, receive alerts such as upcoming needs forecasting, and capture data from the field including fuel, inspections, accidents and more. There are dozens of high quality, meaningful reports available from most systems and these will help in your continuing efforts to understand your fleet costs, predict your needs, and reduce labor costs and downtime. There is no worse event in a fleet based operation than to have a vehicle down for an extended period of time due to unplanned maintenance. The vehicle is not earning for the company and its driver is not earning either. Fleet maintenance software can help.
Read more: Efficient Fleets Start With Quality Software
