Tow Professional Podcast

Hosted by Darian Weaver

Business

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Episodes

143

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Tow Professional Magazine is creating a Podcast to keep the industry informed on the latest in the towing industry

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 27, 202641 min

Who Owns The Risk After The Firetruck Leaves

A damaged EV can look calm, get loaded, and then light off again when you least expect it. That single detail changes everything for towing and recovery, because once the fire department clears the scene, the tow operator often becomes the long-term risk manager for a high-voltage battery that may reignite minutes, hours, or even weeks later. We sit down with Chas Hendrickson, COO and founder at Ramp Container, to talk about what that reality means for EV towing safety, yard storage, and protecting your people. We dig into why lithium-ion thermal runaway doesn’t behave like a normal vehicle fire, why “just add water” can require massive volumes and still fail to end the reaction, and how toxic smoke plus high voltage raise the stakes for drivers and yard staff. Chas walks us through EV Rescue, a containment and transport system designed to keep distance during loading, continuously monitor with thermal imaging, and automatically respond with an extremely cold liquid cryogen when temperatures spike, then reset and keep watching. We also cover real-world incidents, the training gap for towers, and the practical need for a written SOP that answers where the vehicle goes, who monitors it, and what happens when it heats back up. If you’re seeing more EVs and hybrids on your calls, this is a must-listen for EV fire response planning, tow yard risk management, and safer roadside recovery. Subscribe for more tools and tactics that help you run a safer, stronger operation, and if this helped, share it with another operator and leave a review.

October 20, 202646 min

TRAA Hill Day Turns Towing Into A Heard Voice

Tow trucks get compared to “big trucks” all the time, and that misunderstanding drives bad assumptions, bad headlines, and sometimes bad policy. We sit down with Bruce Bender, Executive Director of TRAA, to talk about how Hill Day changes the conversation by bringing towing and recovery professionals straight to Capitol Hill with a clear message: understand the work, then fix the rules that shape it. We break down what Hill Day 26 accomplished simply by showing up consistently, building recognition with lawmakers, and making the industry real through stories, stats, and straight talk. We also dig into the issues towers keep running into right now: the insurance squeeze, roadside safety and move-over realities, weights and measures compliance challenges, and the growing need for guidance around EV fires and EV fire remediation. Along the way, we share why most towing businesses being small operations matters in federal legislation, and how relationship-building can create early warnings when harmful proposals start moving. Then we get practical about Hill Day 27: how the event prepares first-timers, how meetings are organized by state, and why bringing the next generation of tow operators is a game-changer. We also cover key logistics like early bird registration and the new Washington, DC hotel setup at the Omni Shoreham with a dramatically lower nightly rate and optional extended stay for families who rarely get that time back. If you care about safer roads, fair treatment for safety-critical towing, and a stronger voice for the towing and recovery industry, listen now, share this with a fellow operator, and subscribe and leave a review so more towers hear about Hill Day.

October 13, 202652 min

Stop Losing Money To Disconnected Tow Workflows

Buying a car has become a tech circus, yet towing and recovery is still stuck juggling paper tickets, radio dispatch, and a maze of separate apps. That mismatch doesn’t just waste time, it keeps towers waiting to get paid and keeps drivers exposed on the roadside longer than they need to be. So we brought on Rudy Nieto, CEO of Autura, to get practical about what actually changes when towing operations move from disconnected tools to one connected workflow. We dig into what owners keep telling Rudy and his product teams: the pain of manual processes, the chaos of managing motor club apps plus government rotation portals, and the constant friction between “pretty software” and software that survives 2 a.m. in a snowstorm. Rudy explains why workflow matters more than feature lists, how domain knowledge makes or breaks a tow management system, and what reliability, security, and compliance look like when you’re handling real dispatch volume. We also break down how to think about Dispatch Anywhere versus TOPS, how technology supports growth in a consolidating towing market, and why integrating with law enforcement and agency systems can reduce app overload and improve decision-making. Then we get into the money side: where time and profit leak between vehicle hookup and the day it leaves the lot, and why online vehicle auction marketplaces can outperform the old “we’ve got a guy” approach to unclaimed cars. If you get value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a tow owner who’s overwhelmed by apps, and leave a review so more operators can find it.

October 8, 202627 min

From Two Trucks To Heavy Tow Leadership

Calls come in at 2 a.m., details are incomplete, traffic is stacking up, and everyone on scene is counting on you to get it right. We sit down with Hannan Schick of Hannan Towing and Recovery and Beau White of Towing and Recovery Academy to talk about what real towing and recovery leadership looks like when the work is unpredictable and the stakes are high. Hannan walks us through how a family-owned towing company grows from a couple of trucks in 2010 into a fleet that handles light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty towing, plus bigger recoveries and complex highway incidents. We get specific about what people don’t see: dispatch triage, equipment selection, scene planning, and the discipline to slow down long enough to make a safe plan before anyone starts moving steel. If you’re searching for heavy recovery lessons, rotator operations mindset, or how to scale a towing business the right way, this conversation delivers the principles behind the progress. Beau shares why his transition into a director role focused on towing operations, training, and safety clicked fast: autonomy, trust, and a culture that welcomes improvement. He explains how daily coaching in the field builds a stronger safety culture, breaks old habits, and protects operators on dangerous roadside scenes. We also dig into why relationships with police departments, fire departments, and partner companies matter when a major accident shuts down the road and teamwork is the only way to reopen it safely.

September 11, 202636 min

Tough Lights For Tough Jobs

A roadside scene gives you zero room for “almost.” If your warning lights fail, your battery dies early, or your wireless system interferes with someone else’s setup, the risk spikes fast. We sit down with Aaron Custer, VP of Sales at Custer Products, to talk about what towing and recovery operators should demand from safety lighting, and what actually separates professional grade gear from bargain alternatives. We get into the practical details that matter on real calls: reliable activation, long battery life for wireless tow light bars, and rugged construction built for rain, snow, salt, drops, and constant handling. Aaron explains why Custer uses heat-sealed connections, how serialized transmitters prevent crosstalk at multi-vehicle scenes, and why radio frequency range can outperform Bluetooth when you need dependable distance. We also talk about the company’s custom-wiring roots in agriculture and how that same build-to-fit mindset shows up when operators need a specific solution, not an off-the-shelf compromise. You’ll hear about new product momentum too, including internal lithium wireless light bars rated for extended runtime, marker lights with strobes built in for brighter warning without extra modules, and rooftop LED light bars with in-cab control that lets you switch colors by module on the fly. We also highlight the America 250 “red, white, and built right” special edition, made in the USA and packaged with a quality stitched American flag, plus where to find Custer Products at upcoming towing shows and on social media. If you care about towing safety, roadside visibility, wireless tow lights, and LED strobe lighting that holds up shift after shift, hit play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a driver who needs better lighting, and leave a review so more operators can find it.

August 6, 202638 min

A Light Tower Can Pay For Itself Faster Than You Think

Eight seconds can be the difference between control and chaos on a dark roadside. We’re joined by Keith Bousquet, Senior Marketing Sales Manager at Will Burt Industries, to get practical about scene lighting for towing and recovery: what to mount, how to aim it, and why “more lumens” is only helpful when the light is placed the right way. If you’ve ever waited on a separate light unit, fought shadows while rigging, or had to move the truck just to see your work, this conversation is built for you. We walk through Will Burt’s Night Scan light towers and why rapid deployment matters when you’re first on scene. Keith explains how pan-and-tilt control and wireless tether options let you reposition light without repositioning the recovery truck, keeping the focus on the pull instead of the setup. We also dig into a real safety problem crews don’t always connect to lighting: glare. Keith’s “sunlight effect” story makes it clear how low, intense lights can blind oncoming drivers and even your own operators, and why elevated lighting helps protect vision and reduce risk. Then we get into gear many teams ask for: portable, powerful light that works with the batteries already in the truck. Keith introduces the TriStar work light, designed from end-user feedback, delivering 10,000 lumens, flexible battery adapters for common 20V platforms, weather protection with an IP54-style enclosed battery compartment, adjustable color temperature (Kelvin), and plug-in AC capability for the shop or long scenes. We also talk price point, runtime, and how some companies treat scene lighting as a billable service where allowed. Subscribe for more towing industry tools and field-tested ideas, share this with a teammate who runs night calls, and leave a review so more operators can find the show. What lighting problem do you want solved next?

July 18, 202641 min

Plan Today Or Pay Later

A single medical surprise can wipe out years of hard work, especially when you’re self-employed and your income depends on showing up. We sit down with Whitney Williams, financial professional at Cornerstone Advisors Group, to talk about what financial security really looks like for tow operators, owner operators, and 1099 contractors who don’t have employer benefits to fall back on. We dig into the biggest myth Whitney hears all the time: retirement is only for people with high-paying corporate jobs. She breaks down why retirement planning is still possible for small business owners and independent contractors, as long as you build a strategy early and stick to it. We also talk health insurance options outside an employer, why “I’m healthy” is not a plan, and how one accident can trigger both hospital bills and lost income. Whitney also shares what happens in a first conversation with a fiduciary, how she builds a full picture of your finances without judgment, and how to match your retirement goals to the lifestyle you actually want. You’ll walk away with clear next steps, including her three-part homework: organize your money, invest in yourself, and get connected with a licensed professional. Plus, we preview her upcoming Shifting into Security seminar geared toward 1099 contractors and transportation pros. If this helped you, subscribe, share the episode with a coworker, and leave a review so more people in the towing and recovery industry can find it.

July 13, 202637 min

Tow Family On The Road

A lot of towing gear looks great for five minutes in a parking lot. We wanted to know what happens after 2,200 miles of the worst roads we can find, long heat-soaked runs, and the kind of stops that mirror real calls. Darian Weaver sits down with Jason Giddens, co-founder and VP of Sales at JB Tow, to talk about taking a mobile showroom on the road and using it to rebuild something the towing and recovery industry depends on: trust, safety, and community. We get into what actually held up, including the real-world performance of Collins Super G7X dollies and the battery life results from Towmate wireless tow lights. Jason explains the habits that matter just as much as the products like checking hubs, rechecking straps, and treating securement like a non-negotiable. We also talk about the gear operators keep asking for, why customer service still wins business, and how simple tools can improve roadside professionalism while keeping you cleaner and faster on scene. Then we hit the hard topic: DOT compliance and liability. Jason breaks down why “never strap dollies” is a dangerous myth, how unsecured load risk can land on you and your company, and how a few minutes of proper securement can protect your job. We close with the tow family side of the story, including a request to keep the Wagaman family in your thoughts as they search for Tyler. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with one operator who needs the reminder, and leave a review so more towers can find it.

July 8, 202653 min

What Does "Made in the USA" Really Buy You on The Road Side

Most towing incidents don’t turn scary because you don’t have lights, they turn scary because the scene gets unmanaged fast. We sit down with Chris Anderson, Executive VP of Towmate Industries, to talk about what real roadside safety looks like when you stop thinking about a single flashing bar and start thinking about an entire lighting system, from arrival to recovery to getting back on the road. Chris shares what Towmate has been building lately, including the revamped Towmate.com experience with easier reordering, a dealer locator, and more useful troubleshooting content. He also takes us to the Japan truck show with Tesoro Japan and explains what surprised him about the towing and heavy truck market overseas, how tight city traffic changes the way you approach warning and perimeter lighting, and why Japan’s high engineering expectations can push Towmate to tighten designs for everyone. We dig into the Towmate Advantage wireless tow light and the features that matter in the real world: sequential amber turns for clearer signals, strobes and area lighting for scene awareness, stronger magnets, and lithium power that delivers long runtime and better service life. Then we go deeper on Towmate’s lighting ecosystem, including cone lights for advanced warning and HINV lighting that makes high-vis gear pop without blinding the worker. Chris also breaks down Infinitra and the PowerLink 2.0 warning light platform, built for fast response, flexible configuration, and the reality of different state lighting codes. We wrap with why Towmate still manufactures in Rogers, Arkansas, how automation and rapid prototyping speed up quality improvements, and what they’re excited about next. If you’re headed to the San Antonio Tow Show, stop by Towmate at booth 1000. Subscribe, share this with a tower who cares about safety, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

June 8, 202654 min

How Hands-On Training Builds Safer Tow Teams

One bad hookup can erase a month of profit, and one shortcut can change a life forever. That’s why we brought on Beau White, CEO of Towing and Recovery Academy and a longtime heavy recovery operator, to get painfully clear about what training really buys you: fewer damage claims, fewer injuries, stronger confidence under pressure, and a reputation that stands up when everyone has a camera. We talk through Beau’s path into towing, why he chose to join Hannon, and what great leadership looks like when owners show up on the roadside and invest in people like family. From there, the conversation goes deep on the real-world value of towing and recovery training: how humility separates good operators from great ones, why “I’ve always done it that way” is dangerous, and how hands-on learning beats watching from the back of a crowded class. Bo also shares a standout recovery bringing a loaded tractor-trailer out of the water during a hurricane, and why you don’t “rise to the occasion” as much as you fall back on your training. We also get into what makes Towing and Recovery Academy different: small classes, “no wallflowers,” and a culture where questions don’t get mocked. Bo announces the next step in heavy duty recovery training with an indoor heated and air-conditioned facility in Maryland, plus the chance to get hands-on with serious equipment. If you run a towing company, manage a team, or want to level up as an operator, this is a practical playbook for safer, cleaner, more professional recoveries. Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with one operator who needs it, and leave a review so more tow pros can find the training-first mindset.