Towing News Now
Each week Wes Wilburn talks about the towing industry. In every episode Wes talks about the important events and latest information. Keep up to date with the latest newws stories in the towing industry.
Towing News Now
AI Jingles And Chain Safety For Tow Operators
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A tow call can flip from routine to life-changing in seconds, and this week’s stories make that painfully clear. We start by catching up from the Towing Equipment Direct studios, including a real-world reminder that summer heat, dehydration, and electrolytes affect how you feel and how you perform on the job. Staying sharp isn’t just personal wellness, it’s part of professional towing safety.
We also share a fun behind-the-scenes experiment: AI-generated TikTok jingles made for our towing supplies and equipment brand. The point isn’t novelty, it’s clarity. Short, memorable content helps customers remember where to get the right chain assemblies, hooks, and recovery gear when they’re under pressure.
Then we get into the practical details tow operators care about: rigging inspection after difficult recoveries, spotting stretch and deformation, and why pulling questionable equipment from service protects lives. Wes breaks down the most-requested chain setups we’re building right now, including specialty “do anything” chains and a short V bridle approach that makes better use of the chains you already carry. We also talk USA-made options, Crosby hooks, working load limits, and how limited-time deals work when inventory is tight.
The second half turns to towing industry news: a tow truck driver shot during a service call, an operator assaulted after signaling a driver to move over, a major fire at a towing operation, and a bright spot, a creator’s thoughtful visit to the International Towing and Recovery Museum in Chattanooga. If you care about tow operator safety, recovery equipment, and doing the job the right way, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the show with a friend in the industry, and leave a review so more operators can find it.
Welcome And Host Catch-Up
SPEAKER_09Welcome on and all to the Towing News Now podcast. A podcast dedicated to insightful interviews, news stories that affect the towing industry, and a weekly spotlight on towing supplies and equipment. We have two hosts. One of them has been in the business 40 years. The other his charming wife of many years, who also is the general manager of product supply. No other than Wes and April Wilburn. Wes and April, I turn it over to you.
SPEAKER_10Well, DJ, as always, I thank you for your kind introduction. Happy to be back here for the podcast. Boy, take a little time off. It seems like it's been a month since we've been here, but it's been a couple weeks.
SPEAKER_08We're um I'm on board. DJ, I'm glad to I'm glad to have you back with us. How you doing?
SPEAKER_09I'm doing good. Uh you know, everything's good doing good on my end. Now I I'm drinking water with IV in it.
SPEAKER_08Oh, that's probably got some good electrolytes in it too. Shopping.
SPEAKER_09That's exact that's exactly right. And my wife got it at the the drugstore, and the drugstore guy goes, Tell DJ this will be good stuff for him. And it is. It really has helped me. And I did my infusion Monday, so I'm on a roll today.
SPEAKER_08It's amazing um what dehydration will do to your body. So having that having that um extra electrolytes is very important and just to touch on what's his Parkinson, because I he's out here working every day, you know, still, and I have to emphasize with him to make sure you drink plenty of fluids and every now and then hit up a power, the gator rate, or your IV drink because it's got those electrolytes in it.
SPEAKER_10Well, how have you been?
SPEAKER_08I've been doing pretty good. As I said, if I have to watch the post the mailbox and come back, it's it's just I mean, it went from seventies pleasant to in the nineties and hundreds. Hundred degrees outside. But, you know, uh less to work inside and one of the things I lost to do is to start rolling out a lot of the TikTok stuff and do a lot of the the stuff in here and work with my good husband here, so I am very fortunate.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. Um I'm fortunate as well too. The uh we celebrated 4th of July and really enjoyed the two hundred and fifty uh celebration. I remember as a child, the two hundred being such a big deal and uh wasn't disappointed then I wasn't disappointed after this this one. Um so that was very enjoyable. We're so like April said, we've been focusing on uh doing a lot of different things around here. I've with training I've slowed way down. I'm not gonna do much more training at this point. I'm on standby if the folks out there in in St. Louis need us, but uh they're doing their own thing. So it's allowed me to do something
AI TikTok Jingles For The Brand
SPEAKER_10I've been wanting to do for several years, which is really focused on the sports business, Tommy Equipment Direct dot com with April. And we've been doing a lot of things, being creative with the TikTok videos and whatnot for cousins.
SPEAKER_08Um David Kidwell under the handle of Big Man, Big Night Seventy One.
SPEAKER_10Has been very helpful, making us some TikToks and whatnot to help get the word out. The uh and he's done them in several different genres. This is the the first one's really my favorite.
SPEAKER_08So if we can get if we can get Chuck, our great producer, to do uh Midnight on the Interstate and let everybody hear it, because I'm interested in what people feel like is their favorite.
SPEAKER_11Yeah, Midnight on the Interstate. Got the call another heavy weight. What do you think, DJ?
SPEAKER_09I love it. Tony Equipment Dreck dot com will keep you calm. I love it. I love it, love it. And this is a relative of yours, huh?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, he's he's my cousin. Um he started messing with AI a little bit and just getting hooked one up like a lot of other people have him. I'm trying I'm trying to get hooked one of DJ, but it hasn't hasn't quite gotten me yet. But um he's been messing with it and then just sent us one and he sent us another one and uh with little little to no encouragement, he just sent us a whole flu of them and they have come in really handy for us.
SPEAKER_09I really like it.
SPEAKER_10He's done I do too. He and he's the the short, I tend a lot of time at advertising too long. Short to the point he talks about what we want to talk about, gives you an idea, gives you a plan of action or what to do.
SPEAKER_09Did you give him anything to say? I mean, like, that's really clever. Toning equipment direct.com and Weston April will keep you calm. And I thought, good lord, that's good stuff.
SPEAKER_08Yep, most of that stuff you cover with on the sun, he's very, very clever.
SPEAKER_09Very. All right, so now you have another one?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, here's another one with kind of a different genre to it, a different type.
SPEAKER_08Yep, this is um this one's called Heavy Duty Hook.
SPEAKER_13Go with Equipment Direct.com. Help you with all your needs.
SPEAKER_08So when we first listened to that, we thought that was like di techno stuff, but I think that goes out to all of our death metal fans out there who are. Yeah, urban beats are like a Metallica type of uh uh a sound to it. So we got something for everybody. What do we look through saying about this? And number three in this um is line that holds. And that's your country twang with a little bit of hip hop added to it, too.
SPEAKER_09So you got it. It's a good I I like it. It has a country tweet.
SPEAKER_10Yep.
SPEAKER_09Really does.
SPEAKER_10So we were very uh appreciative and indebted to David for ch doing this on his own and really putting some enthusiasm enthusiasm to it. We got several more that are uh usable like the ones you heard, and a couple that are uh gotta be really tweaked to get him to to listen right. Sometimes the computer says some of the words kinda funky.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, they have a little bit of an accent. But if you like this stuff from David, you could also look him up on TikTok at Big Man Big Man Seventy One and or and or David Kidwell. And he's got a lot of clever videos on there that he does does for his own personal thing.
SPEAKER_09Is he really a big man or a little guy?
SPEAKER_08Six foot six foot four, six foot five.
SPEAKER_09Oh Lord.
SPEAKER_08Six hundred and forty three hundred fifty pounds.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, he's a big man.
SPEAKER_08He's not he's not he's up at T 350. Yeah, he's lost he he's um he's how you call somebody tiny but they're big and somebody's big and you call them like big man. No, he's he fits the name.
Why Rigging Inspections Save Lives
SPEAKER_09Well, I tell you what, I I think it sounds great and it really makes a big difference. And people will start remembering filming equipment direct.com. Believe me.
SPEAKER_10We get we're getting a lot of our friends and people we met through training supporting us, so we really appreciate that. And what it's allowed me to do is be more creative with the chains and stuff, not only the heavy duty stuff, you know, the upright of concrete mixture, specialty chains type stuff. Doing doing some stuff for light duty as well, making custom chain assemblies. Making them that if they bend a hook, they can replace the hook, they don't have to replace the whole assembly. As long as they don't overload it, of course, you know. But a lot of times you bend a hook in a situation where you get to put in a funny position or something like that. That's one of the reasons it's so important to inspect chains and whatnot, straps any rigging that you can use it. Of course that's in addition to your daily vehicle inspection, but when you do a recovery, a major tow job where the loading the vehicle is awkward or different. You should definitely be inspecting your rigging looking for stretch and deformation. You know, reason to take that equipment out of out of service the aim of safety.
SPEAKER_09I gotta add that what I was gonna ask April to Wes, what is, you know, a lot of times when I call over to you guys for a personal matter during the week, and you always hear Wes is in the back cutting chain, what are most uh what what is the biggest order that you get? You know, a most popular one that people are looking at during this summer season when they everybody should check their chains. I know before they go out. But what is the most popular that you're doing now, Wes?
SPEAKER_10Well, there's a couple really. There's the um sew anything chains is what we call them. It's a uh no nobody's chain package has anything like it. A specialty pair of chains, half inch, grade 100, 12 foot long. They got a Miller frame hook on one end and a foundry hook on the other. And even if the front axle's knocked from out from under the tractor, or you're towing a tractor by the rear because the rear ends are knocked out from under it. I can take the one pair of chains and the the the hookup chains and they also secure the rear ends and other loose parts all at the same time. Eliminates the need for a lot of secondary chain.
SPEAKER_09I gotcha.
SPEAKER_10That's the most popular there. And then on the recovery side. So probably
The Most-Ordered Chain Setups
SPEAKER_10one of the most popular setups out there. The other one that's gaining a lot of uh popularity is uh what we call the V1. It's a short V bridle that allows you to take your existing chains off your tow truck and make the lifting bridle. In other words, you don't have to have an eliminator or one of those type bridles where you have a 30-foot of chain and that head assembly all tied up to one specific use, which has V1, which is a little short head assembly. Two chains out of your side cabin, you can make the same kind of chain bridle. And utilize those chains for other operations as well. So those are two of the most popular right now.
SPEAKER_09Now, I I started thinking you have one commercial out there, it's like $240, and there's only four left. What happens when two different towing, you know, centers call you and they they both want it? Then what do you do? Just make it special.
SPEAKER_10We uh handle that on a case by case, and we try to take care of the customer the best we can.
unknownGotcha.
SPEAKER_10Unfortunately with these special liquidation deals with the low money pricing situation. Yeah. Sometimes we there's only so much of that, you know, we're the we say we only have four up because there's four bought at a certain price point that we're selling at a certain price point, and that's some of that discount that you see.
SPEAKER_09I gotcha.
SPEAKER_10Uh we try to say yes to the customer more than we say no.
SPEAKER_09I know you do.
SPEAKER_10Sometimes if you wait a week and then the special's gone. We we got real simple advice for everybody. If you see something you wanted, call, text, do whatever you gotta do. You text and just say you want some item and you'll get with us in a little while. You're on a call, whatever. Get with us tomorrow, whatever. We're reasonable people.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, we'll r we'll reserve that for you. Um because we are reasonable people people. The number to text us you is 910-7479000. Or a call, um, you could also call Facebook DM is a good deal.
SPEAKER_09Well, I told one person when we were up in Chattanooga, I said the nice thing about it is when you get a chain from West and April, West and April come with the chain. So you don't have to worry about it. They have great customer service and they follow up with everybody.
SPEAKER_10You know, we gotta follow up with uh uh advertisers for a quick commercial, and then I will talk to you a little bit about some of that uh after the sales service that we offer. So hang around for a quick break and we'll be right back.
SPEAKER_07We have to apply to all the efforts for the line for what happens. Whether you are fire, tower, or flight, we've got covered.
SPEAKER_20We also offer the National Tow Operator Certification, an independently sourced virtual testing program covering light duty, heavy duty, electric, and alternative fuel vehicles.
SPEAKER_09Welcome back, listeners. You know you're listening to towing equipment direct.com. It's coming directly from the towingequipmentdirect.com studios, and this has been a good one. Now, I want to remind all of you that West and April
Limited Deals And Fast Reservations
SPEAKER_09are available every week that does an interesting episode, and we are available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcast. So, by all means, I can't thank you. We have over 20,000 listeners, and this is a great one. So, without further ado, going back to Tony News now, podcasts, April. Can I ask you a little bit about the new ad that's out? Could you tell us a little bit more about that and how interesting that is?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, you know what? VK is very interesting because as we closed down on the 4th of July, um, as much as possible, it's at the forefront of us to do everything American-made, but which we know is impossible, but we did achieve it in this situation. Um, this is a 100% USA made chain. It's 10 foot 38 square 100 peerless chain, which is USA made chain. And it's got these cross this Crosby graph hook on the one end and a Crosby sling hook with latch on the other one. It's like I said, it's 100% USA made. The working load is 8,800 pounds. We got four of them here in stock at this price. Um the regular price is 245.75 and we can sell that to you every day, all day long. But for right now, our special is 209.75, and the first four people who ask for this get it. You can reach out to me by um calling 910 7479000. That is also a very textable number. I answer all the text. You also get Facebook DM on towing equipment um Facebook page. Um and any of those ways will get me. You also go to our website, towing equipment direct.com. And this is a great chain assembly.
SPEAKER_10All America made chain, all America made hooks. Crosby is considered one of the finest manufacturers of rigging in the world. Um quality product, and again, it's all a matter of price point and whatnot, so that's what the deal is there. We try to run these specials every week of different things like this. Again, as April said, we've been focusing on the USA made assembly. Um we're trying to do more and more with that, although it is a global economy in many, many ways. And that's been going on for years and we so one of the exciting things is I was talking
USA-Made Chain Special Explained
SPEAKER_10earlier about the chain and what we're doing with it. Making up a custom chain assembly so either heavy or light, we can change the length of an assembly, whatever the customer wants. I really like that is somehow brain to one of the customer and you come up with some great ideas for different little things to make things make the job simpler and easier. One of the tools that we helped identify to the industry about ten years ago was called a clutch sling hook. Folks come to heavy duty class and see him, and it's a wonderful tool. But basically you can take a chain and drop a sling hook on the chain anywhere that you want. We're talking back and forth with a couple different people. Oh, let me back up. That clutch sling hook is a wonderful, wonderful tool. It's a little pricey though, it really is. Matter of fact, I told this to somebody the other day, DJ, I'm pricing I'm pricing chain assemblies nowadays. Sometimes we get into the big chain assemblies, the half inch and the five-eighth and the three quarter inch. And one hook one hook on the end of one one end of the chain cost as much or more than my first car that I bought in nineteen eighty one, I guess, and nothing.
SPEAKER_08Well back in the nineteen hundreds.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. One hook cost more than that car. And that car wasn't the top of the line, but it was a shovel I know of with a V eight engine in it. Small V eight wasn't wasn't a big one, but still. One hook cost more than that when I paid for that car. Anyway, the clutching hook falls in that category. So we brainstorming with a couple operators, came up with a concept to make a tool that's almost as handy. I think it it takes about a hundred dollars off the price of the hook. I uh just uh going a different path to get to the same end of result. So I love being challenged by that kind of stuff and coming up with different kind of ideas. And of course when we do something different like that we try to show it in the Facebook special. But if you really want to see what we got going on, the website is where you need to go and take a look. April's done a tremendous amount of work with the website.
SPEAKER_08Yep, telling equipment direct dot com.
SPEAKER_09Now can I ask Bless can I ask you? You know, I always tell people about the follow-up review in April. Um, do you have any customer relations story that you could share with our listeners?
SPEAKER_10Well, we're available before, during, or after the sale. A good example would be a customer that called me from the middle of the country the other day on a job, haven't heard from him for a while. Um, actually I'd worked for one company, now working for another company. Somebody he's working for, I'm very close with, would help him in any way. Shape possible. So uh You're gonna take an eight thousand pounds where everything's gonna be right. And they didn't have a technical question like the
Building Cheaper Alternatives To Premium Hooks
SPEAKER_10way they were taking one. Oh no, I thought it was probably longer.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, we have a very good cli we have a very good client base, and our clients most of them are unfortunately good friends of ours, so them knowing that they can call us for that type of support and we actually work for something they knew was the right thing to do when they just needed that one little more hour. And I have on the other hand, people who would just call me it's a 45 second phone conversation. People that I know will call the place reporter and I'm off the phone with them. It's really important for these guys and gals who are doing running their own business to be able to do that. Get that done after less than be able to go into the news the next thing to run their business. Sometimes it's a test. And so, as we all know from running our own businesses, time is the most valuable thing that you have. So I try to make that very important and essential to them.
SPEAKER_09And that's what that's important. So when you buy something from sewing equipment direct dot com, you know that you people are behind it. So you come with the with the equipment, and I think it's wonderful. And we always hear at shows, we always hear such good words about West and April Wilburn. So I'm I'm proud to be there with you guys.
SPEAKER_08And I'm gonna say one more thing about our the service that we provide, and one of those is is I'm not gonna say downtell, but if somebody calls and they have an idea of just what can they want to buy, sometimes West is knowledgeable enough to know to say you can get that if you want to, because it's definitely within way over the working load. But but you don't need that one. Here is this one instead, and we don't make as much money on it because it's not as high of a ticket item, but it it's more than they need for what they're doing. So we we often just try to be honest with them and um to give them what they need, not what they need in a one. If they want the bigger one, we'll definitely give it to them.
SPEAKER_09Well, April. Yeah, you guys build relationships with your customer base, and that's what's really nice.
SPEAKER_10Sometimes you get to look at all these numbers and get into some serious look in some serious ways around it. Maybe being over over cautious. Sometimes you can get the building monstrosity. Technically on the paper probably the right thing to bring it, but maybe whatever some reason I want to use it, so maybe some of the stuff I'll be glad. But it's the right thing to do.
SPEAKER_09It's the right thing to do.
SPEAKER_10But yeah, we're thankful we got some great forecast. Um so anyway, with all that being said, starting out with what we started out with. That's what we're we've been up to, is just here focusing on that, and uh try to work out some product demonstrations. I'll let everybody know as that comes along.
Real Customer Support During A Job
SPEAKER_10And uh besides that feeling good and happy to be doing so. We've got a uh we need to take another short break, and then we've got a couple of news stories, so we'll be right back.
SPEAKER_03The best towing companies offer a combination of great training, efficient operations along with quality supplies. Towing Equipment Direct is committed to help your towing company stay ahead of the competition by providing the best quality of towing equipment and supplies. Here's why you should choose towing equipment direct for all of your towing supply needs. We provide affordable towing supplies and equipment. All towing supplies and equipment are made from the latest technology, and we supply products from the most respected brands in the towing industry. If you're not using the latest towing equipment, there's a good chance your company has fallen behind. Savvy consumers can quickly tell which towing companies provide the best service. In many cases, the quality of your equipment and supplies can make a huge difference. Our representatives are knowledgeable in the towing industry, so for the best towing equipment and supplies, count on the team at Towing Equipment Direct. Browse our catalog online at towingequipmentdirect.com or give us a call at 910-7479000. That's 910-7479000. We look forward to serving you.
SPEAKER_09Welcome back, folks, to the Towing Equipment Direct.com studios. Well, we're gonna continue, folks. I need to say a personal thank you to all of our listeners. We're well over 20,000, and I want to remind you tell your friends about us. You know, and give us a good review or share with everyone you know, and especially some of these new commercials, by all means share them with your friends. Share them with people in the industry, and we sure would appreciate it. If you are belong to an association that has upcoming news and you want to share with a good amount of towers, by all means dial our hotline number, 706-409-5603, and we'll be more than happy to share with all of you the incoming news about your association. We appreciate all of you. Now, with further ado, let me pass you back over to April and Wes Wilburn.
SPEAKER_10Thank you, DJ. We certainly appreciate that. As we move forward, we're going to continue to focus on the uh news of the telling industry. Uh rough week in the news this week, was it, April?
SPEAKER_08Oh my goodness, so many different things going on.
SPEAKER_10And uh so of them dangerous to telling operators. Our first story comes to us from the West Coast.
SPEAKER_15Top story at five a tow truck driver is fighting for his life after being shot during a service call on the 210 freeway this morning.
SPEAKER_18Officers later shot and killed that suspect following an intense pursuit in Colveena. KTLH Shelby Nelson live in Covina with more details, Shelby.
SPEAKER_17Hi, Court and Micah. Yeah, that gas station that you see right behind me was one of two scenes, and it is now back open as of 30 to 40 minutes ago. And as for that tow truck driver, I just got an update right now that he is back in surgery. Several hours later, evidence markers and crime scene tape. This is the result of an overnight shooting in what investigators are calling attempted murder that has one man fighting for his life. It spanned across not one but two cities, starting in Glendora when California highway patrol officers were called out to report of a physical altercation on the right shoulder of the eastbound 210 freeway near the Grand Avenue exit just before 3 a.m.
SPEAKER_01One of the reporting parties reported that an individual was armed with a firearm at the scene. As our officers responded, there was only one vehicle, which was the tow truck that was on scene, and the driver was down on the ground with major injuries.
SPEAKER_17In a post on social media, a company called Jance Toeing saying that one of its own members was involved in the incident. They say in part, right now our hearts are with our employees, their family, our team, and everyone affected. We ask that you please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
Tow Operator Safety News Roundup
SPEAKER_17A spokesperson for the company, which has nearby offices in Azusa and Glendora, tells KPLA their employee was responding to a gas call from AAA. Authorities say the suspect fled in a white SUV. Officers located him shortly after. They say the suspect led them on a pursuit, which ended at this Covina gas station on Citrus Avenue and East Arrow Highway.
SPEAKER_04But it was like four or five gunshots.
SPEAKER_02Within my community here, we never had any kind of it's just like, you know, gunshots or something. So I would never have thought about that.
SPEAKER_17Yeah, no officers were injured. Meantime, triple A did provide us a statement saying that Jans Toeing is an independent service provider. They expressed their condolences, but say that's the extent of what they are saying, no other information they are giving right now. Reporting live in Covina. I'm Shelby Nelson, KTLA5 News.
SPEAKER_08So I did talk to somebody um at that tow company, Jans Toeing. The tow operator is still in the hospital. They said that he is really fight fighting right now, and that's all they would really say to me about it. Yeah, January the third, right before the 4th of July. Yeah. It happened on July 3rd.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. So we should have today. Almost a week.
SPEAKER_08Almost, yeah.
SPEAKER_10The next situation isn't much better. It's an it's another tough one.
SPEAKER_08Only a little bit better. It's only a little bit better because um when we get to when we get to it, the operator has been released from the hospital. But we're gonna listen to this one too.
SPEAKER_19Colorado State Patrol is asking for help this morning to find the person they believe assaulted a tow truck operator in Elbert County last night. Nine news reporter Jalisa Irizari is joining us live outside State Patrol headquarters. So, Jaleza, again, this just happened last night. How much do we know this morning?
SPEAKER_12But this is what we know so far. This all started around 7:30 last night on I-70, just west of Lyman. Investigators say the tow truck operator was preparing to tow a car from the shoulder. That 50-year-old operator was walking towards his driver's side when officials say he waved at a passing driver to move over. That's when CSV says that the driver pulled over and started physically fighting the tow operator. After the incident, the driver left the scene, but CSV shared a photo describing the man as about six feet tall in his mid-50s with a receding hairline and long hair in the back. They say he was driving a silver 2007 Dodge Dakota pulling a two-wheel car trailer. Now, if you have any information that can help find the suspect, CSP encourages you to call them. We've got that number on the screen. It's also so important to point out that it is state law for a driver to move over a lane if they have a if a car is disabled on the highway with their hazards on. Reporting live at CSP headquarters, Jalisa Rosari, 9 News.
SPEAKER_10Sounds like some hothead had an attitude, and I mean what what's he doing pulling over and confront the soil cook driver?
SPEAKER_08Taking them two more seconds as we go past them. Pull them off, go past them, you know. That's not that's not nice, maybe, but it's better than what what happened.
SPEAKER_10So next story is uh bad news. Would we have any business for especially a telecompany? Major fire at their operation.
SPEAKER_14Now we start off right out of the gate with breaking news, a large fire response in Wood County.
SPEAKER_16You can see live pictures right here on the scene. More than 10 different fire departments and the 180th Fighter Wing National Guard are actively responding to the blaze at Pat and Son towing and recovering and recovery just off of Pemberville Road near the Ohio Turnpike. Lake Township was the lead department in this and were dispatched at 8:30 tonight. Officials have instead what sparked the blaze, or if anyone was turned.
SPEAKER_14Witness the stampage carrying video and pictures done of the heavy flames, and we have received drone footage as well showing crews working to bring the fire under control. Officials at the scene telling us the building's a total loss, as Kaylee was just saying. But they were able to save another building. Listen.
SPEAKER_00Right now, um they're working to pull some debris out so we can do some overhaul.
SPEAKER_08So it sounds like part of their business may be safe, but I I watched the video and it it was like a pretty big operation, and there was a lot, a lot of fire.
SPEAKER_10And that was at Patent Sun's romantic clarification there in Pennsylvania.
SPEAKER_08Yes, I guess the other one.
SPEAKER_10The other story was how um we have a good what I consider
Towing Museum Shoutout And Closing
SPEAKER_10to be a good story. Um a local citizen recording, uh I guess they're uh I think they're like an influencer or creator. Influen a local influencer in Chattanooga went and paid a uh trip to the towing museum and did a nice what I consider to be a nice little record on that.
SPEAKER_05This museum is dedicated to a service you hope you never need, but you are so glad exists when you do need that. Let me tell you about it. This is the International Towing and Recovery Museum in Chattanooga, and it shows the history of the towing industry. It actually originated in Chattanooga, has a museum hall of fame, including a women's hall of fame, and a memorial for fallen operators. There's a video introduction which teaches you about Ernest Holmes Sr. invented the first US tow truck by modifying a 1913 Cadillac to pull cars and transport them to his garage. And you can see replica of this vehicle, along with around another two dozen tow trucks, all from different eras and different sizes. Whether you're interested in car history or just seeing unique places, this is definitely a one-of-a-kind attraction. And after visiting the museum, you'll have a greater appreciation for tow truck operators. The museum includes a memorial for fallen operators in addition to the Hall of Fame. It honors individuals who have made contributions to towing and recovery. This museum is located on Broad Street in Chattanooga. It's open daily 9 to 5, and it is absolutely worth the detour when you're visiting Chattanooga.
SPEAKER_08I I wondered when I listened to this that this would pass the West test. Because Wes was a historian at one point for the museum. How does she do West? Excellent.
SPEAKER_10She represented the uh museum well, especially for someone that's not well in the industry. And I was uh brief but to the point. I think it's excellent.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, so I didn't catch her name. I'm gonna post a link to uh desk on our Facebook page and share it on on TikTok uh for her to get to get her the notoriety that she deserves for this because it was a very good it was a very good video.
SPEAKER_10Well, we wanna thank our sponsors. Wanna thank everybody for listening. April, DJ, Chuck did a great job. Y'all be safe out there until next week. We'll we'll see you on the road.