The Week's Features

CHP is Grateful for Towman’s Heroic Effort

California towman comes to rescue of trooper under attack

Extra-thick low-clearance roadside mat is 2' wide by 4' long

7M Owners Behind on Car Notes

Delinquency on payments highest since 2010

Superman with Marketing Powers

Man of Steel graphics are a company’s moving billboard

Bagged Peanuts in Ohio

Some 32,000-pounds of peanuts makes a mess

Digital Edition

Events

Las Vegas, NV.
May 8-11, 2019

Tow Expo Dallas

Dallas, TX.
August 15-17, 2019

AT Exposition

Atlantic City, NJ.
Dec. 4-8, 2019

Don't Miss It!

Tired of losing cash calls because of price? Learn how to sell value over price and how to get over the price objection. Mike Porter of Speed’s Towing will also show tow business owners how to train your dispatch team to make the sale. Join Mike for his informative session titled, “Selling Your Value to Callers,” during Tow Industry Week taking place at the American Towman ShowPlace, May 8-11 at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

atshowplace.com

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American Towman Magazine Presents the Week in TowingFebruary 20 - February 26, 2019

Showtime at Wes's Service

By GEORGE L. NITTI

Since owner Brian Booker took over Wes's Service in Calumet City, Ill., nine years ago (they have been in business 47 years), the company has doubled the number of trucks in their fleet, eight of which are heavy-duty wreckers.

Booker attributes their rapid growth to aggressiveness, in part due to youthful energy that has helped transform the company.

"The former owner was in his 70s when I bought the business, so it was time for a change," Booker said.

The other part of their aggressive strategy can be linked to consistently following good basic business practices, such as not missing phone calls and keeping your word.

"You can't miss calls and you have to follow up on what you say you are going to do. There is no room for laxness because there is a lot of competition in the area."

There are 38 trucks in their fleet, and a brand new twin-steer 2015 Kenworth T800 with a Century 1075 rotator joined the bunch in April.

A key focal point on this massive rotator is their refurbished logo, which states "Wes's Service" in a large, silver scripted lettering located on several distinct areas of the truck, including both sides of their blue body, the boom, the back end and on the cabin.

"We wanted to spice up and jazz up the name to get the attention of the public," Booker said.

What is particularly distinguishable about the lettering is the large shadow that mimics the shape of the letters, giving it a creative flair.

The lettering on the sides of the truck sits atop a smoky blue background, which promotes a more futuristic image. Along its powerful black front end, you will find an eye-catching red streak, and on the body, a long curved line of diamond plate of various widths that run the full length. There is also a streak of red ribbon that gets attention.

A couple of other notable graphic features include an open mouth with a long red tongue, similar to the Rolling Stones logo. Underneath you will find the words "Blah, blah, blah."

"If you are talking negative about us, we say 'blah, blah, blah.' It's our way of stopping the negativity that we frequently encounter in this business," Booker said.

Other interesting phrasing includes a "Hello" on top of the truck for helicopters that fly above.

At the very top of the boom, when fully extended, are the words, "It's Showtime."

"You can count on seeing that when we are doing a big job," Booker said.

Brag @ TIW!
Should your truck be featured here? Send a few pics and your contact information to the editor at bdooley@towman.com. You might even be selected to go in print, too, in American Towman magazine!

Camouflaged Wrecker Can’t Hide on the Road

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By George Nitti

It's a paradox that some objects become more visible when they attempt to conceal themselves. Although that may not be the case with soldiers wearing camouflaged battledress or animals that blend in with their natural environment, when you dress up a 1996 Kenworth with a Vulcan 25-ton wrecker in brown-spotted colors, what you get is a highly visible tow truck.

Which is a good thing; enhancing one's marketing objectives by being remembered in the mind of a customer or helping to protect towers from the many hazards of the road.

"The idea came from my father-in-law," said Louie Salinas, the husband of AT Wrecker owner Noelia Lean. "We kind of went crazy on it."

The camouflaged wrap was done by a graphic company in Fort Texas shortly after its purchase from Rocky Mountain Wrecker Sales in Salt Lake City, Utah.

AT Wrecker, located in Alamo, Texas, is the sister company of Corpus Christie-based Apollo Towing and has three trucks that cover light- to heavy-duty towing.

"I work Interstate 281 and Highway 77 and also do a lot of towing in five outlying cities, where we are part of a police rotation," said Salinas. "In 104- to 105-degree temperatures, you've got to love the air conditioning."

Outside of a unique camouflaged wrap that grabs your attention, what else gives visibility is the LCD lighting around the wrecker.

"It has two energy lightbars on the bottom and 16 lights on the side," said Salinas. "They do magic at night; it's like you're working in the daylight. They light up the entire area that I'm working."

(This article originally appeared in the April 22, 2015 edition of Tow Industry Week)

Brag @ TIW!
Should your truck be featured here? Send a few pics and your contact information to the editor at bdooley@towman.com. You might even be selected to go in print, too, in American Towman magazine!

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