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That is a real nice service vehicle there and i bet you hear that all the time :thumb:
Quote (PlanetTowing @ Mar. 15 2006, 6:58 pm)
That is a real nice service vehicle there and i bet you hear that all the time :thumb:

That's the 4th truck I've run in 2-1/2 years. I started the business out of this: Posted image: Click to resize

I paid $150 (Every dime I had). It had first and second gear only. It would do about 50 MPH in second gear. I ran it that way for a few months till I got a *free* transmission out a Camaro in a field.

Make money, trade up. Repeat as needed.
BTW, I intend no slight against the folks running tow trucks. I don't pretend there is any comparison between my expenses and the expenses of a wrecker and on-hook insurance.

The towing industry is just so flooded here that it made absolutely no sense for me to run a full-line towing and service business. Things are so bad here that there are companies that will run a wrecker out to a service call for less than I charge..... I suppose just to get work.
:thumb:
Another idea when doing a service call on any road is park behind the victim  but on an angle so that if anyone hits the truck they deflect back into traffic. I do this all the time when at the scene of an accident to create a safe working zone.

Derek
i have also been looking at police cars when they do traffic stops on the highway and have noticed that they have what they call "felony stop " where they pull up behind a car and at the last moment pull the car to the left at an angle with the front left tire on the white line.this helps them in 2 ways.if the suspect exits the vehicle with a weapon and aims it at the police officer the officer has the fender and motor as a shield.the 2nd way this helps the officer is if they walk up to the car their car gives them protection from passing motorists.i have started to do this and most people will give me at least part of the next lane because they dont want to hit my truck.
Quote (PlanetTowing @ Mar. 15 2006, 4:58 pm)
That is a real nice service vehicle there and i bet you hear that all the time :thumb:

:thumb:i agree,out on interstate 15 outside of barstow truckers don't move over,been almost hit a couple of times!
Quote (Jason Elyria Auto @ Mar. 07 2006, 8:32 am)
I run contrary to the popular trend when it comes to parking of the service vehicle for highway work. I park right in front of the casualty.

My personal belief is that people don't care if they see a tow or service truck, they won't move over. I do believe they are *somewhat* more likely to move over if they see a human being working. So I feel if I park behind, I feel drivers are going to see my truck rather than me.

I do have the advantage of having rather tall vehicles, so my Arrow-Stik can be seen over almost any casualty. Plus my ex-ambulance / service truck still has all its working lights that I can use if necessary. Even the high beam wig-wags still work.

Posted image: Click to resize

Posted image: Click to resize

Nice road service vehicle! :drivin:  :brows:  :hardrock:
:drivin: In the past year or so they applied an Emergency vehicle rule in Alberta. When passing Emerg. vehicles, tow trucks included ALL vehicles must slow to 30mph or the speeding fines are double. If we report them and are willing to go to court they will be charged. Also I always use the police stop method to give myself a safety pocket. I stop a vehicle length and a half back, with the center of my truck lined up with the left side of their vehicle and wheels turned full left. When I am loading I usually try to put 3-4 large cones out about 40 feet back from the customers vehicle and 1/3 of the way out in the lane to get others to move over.
I am in the process of setting up a STEP (specific traffic enforcement program) program with the local RCMP highway patrol to catch people that speed past emergency vehicles. They will then publicize the results to show people they mean business and to pull over and slow down. :devil:
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