Tow Professional Podcast

Hosted by Darian Weaver

Business

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Episodes

138

Latest episode

Aug 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

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60 recent

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.

May 13, 202644 min

Jump Starters, Modern Batteries, And Roadside Best Practices

Battery calls used to be simple. Now you can roll up on a roadside jump start and find AGM, EFB start stop batteries, spiral wound designs, or even lithium iron phosphate, all tied into smarter charging systems that watch current flow and react to what they think just happened. That’s why we brought on Jim O’Hara, EVP of Merchandising at Clore Automotive, to give tow operators a clear, practical playbook for modern battery service calls. We get specific about what matters most in the field: the difference between jump starting and charging. Jim explains why jump starting a 12-volt vehicle is largely chemistry-agnostic, while charging is absolutely not. We talk voltage windows, why lithium batteries are sensitive to overvoltage, and how smart battery chargers with the right profiles help protect battery health and extend service life. If you’re choosing a jump starter, booster pack, or charger for a towing and recovery operation, this is the kind of detail that prevents expensive mistakes. We also dig into the real-world connection practices that can keep you safer and keep the vehicle happier. Jim shares why the negative clamp should go to a solid engine or chassis ground, not directly to the negative battery post, not only to reduce spark risk near hydrogen gas but also to avoid confusing modern battery sensors that can trigger codes or drivability issues. From there we cover how to maintain your jump starter investment with “charge early, charge often,” what to watch for in clamps and cables, and the safety habits that matter when you’re working around belts, fan blades, and energy-dense lithium packs. To round it out, we talk battery diagnostics for tow pros: why classic load testers can struggle when the battery is discharged, and why digital battery testers are often the best choice for quick, accurate triage of the battery, starting system, and charging system on scene. Subscribe for more towing and recovery training, share this with a coworker, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

April 1, 202635 min

Tow Data Made Simple

One missed notice can wipe out storage fees, restart a lien clock, or invite a fight you never had time for. We sit down with Matt Harvey from Auto Data Direct and Stephen Holloway from their government affairs team to unpack the unglamorous part of towing and recovery that decides whether you get paid: accurate vehicle data, compliant owner and lienholder notifications, and a workflow you can trust when you’re busy running calls. We break down how ADD supports towing businesses with tools like DMV123, which pulls real time owner and lienholder records from dozens of jurisdictions. We talk about why “real time” is not just a buzzword, how stale batch data can create legal exposure, and how automating certified mail letters and tracking can turn paperwork into a repeatable process instead of a daily scramble. If you operate across state lines, manage impounds, or handle lien sales, the practical details here matter. Then we zoom out to the bigger picture: what we saw at the TRAA Hill Day, why advocacy is essential for a family run industry, and how towers can share state level wins without reinventing the wheel. Finally, we dig into the Florida model for modernization: third party certified mail options and replacing expensive newspaper notices with online posting that matches how people actually search today. Subscribe for more towing industry insights, share this with a tow owner who lives in paperwork, and leave a review with your biggest compliance challenge so we can cover it next.

March 23, 202635 min

Why Towing Companies Grow When They Invest In Training

Training is not just a compliance box for towing and recovery. It is the difference between a clean, controlled scene and a bad day that follows a driver home. We talk with Megan Bruns, Director of Towing Education and Certification for the American Towing and Recovery Institute (ATRI) and Director of Marketing for Cardinal Legacy Towing Group, about what real investment in people looks like when the work is dangerous and the vehicles keep changing. We get into what ATRI is doing right now to make towing and recovery training easier to access and more effective, including refreshed course materials, more hands-on time, and smarter scheduling that helps drivers earn certifications faster. Megan also shares why leadership training for towing companies matters just as much as technical skills, especially for operators stepping into supervisor roles and for family businesses preparing the next generation. We also touch EV towing training and the practical safety knowledge operators need as electric vehicles become a normal part of the call list. You will hear how Cardinal Legacy Towing Group approaches growth through consolidation while keeping local brands intact, and why pairing that strategy with consistent training can improve safety, professionalism, and retention. If you want better tow truck driver safety, stronger communication on the roadside, and a clearer path to developing future leaders, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more industry interviews, share this with a tower who cares about doing it right, and leave a review with the training topic you want us to cover next.

March 9, 202629 min

Shot At Work, Still Standing; A Tow Driver’s Story

A routine repo in a tight Milwaukee alley turned into a life-or-death sprint when Alfredo heard the first gunshot. What followed was a test of instinct, training, and grit: dropping the hook, flooring the truck, calling for help, and surviving a round that tore through his abdomen and missed his spine by a breath. We invited Alfredo to walk us through the moment, the messy aftermath, and the hard-won lessons every tow and recovery pro should carry into the field. We dig into the details that matter: how complacency sneaks in when you know a city too well, why situational awareness must be a daily discipline, and the small choices that stack up to big outcomes—lighting, angles, spotter coordination, and when to back off. Alfredo is open about fear and focus in those critical seconds, the hospital fight to recover, and the quiet gratitude that followed. He also shares how his company rallied: daily check-ins, a GoFundMe that bridged the gap, and a thoughtful pivot from repossessions to transport while he heals. There’s more beneath the headline. Detectives quickly linked the suspects—one already tied to another shooting—and recovered the minivan that set the scene. We talk about public misconceptions around repossessions, the pressure operators face when emotions run hot, and the responsibility we all share on the road. For leaders, this is a blueprint for culture: invest in training, mental health support, and flexible roles that keep people safe and employed. For operators, it’s a checklist to reset your routine and keep your head on a swivel. For listeners, it’s a reminder that the person behind the wheel is doing a job most won’t and deserves space and respect. If this story resonates, share it with someone in the industry, leave a review to help others find the show, and subscribe so you never miss the conversations that help keep our community safer and stronger.