Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
Revolutionizing the Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo: Innovations, Raffles, and Industry Growth
Curious about the latest innovations in the towing and recovery industry? We've got you covered! Join co-hosts DJ Harrington and Darian Weaver alongside our special guest Carrie Fogg, VP of Operations at Fred's Towing and president of the Towing Recovery Professionals of North Carolina, as we discuss the newly renamed Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo. Happening from September 5th through the 7th, the event expands its reach to include towers and vendors from neighboring states like South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Tune in for exclusive details about the new indoor venue at the Jim Graham building and the host hotel, Hyatt Place in Raleigh, where exciting meet-and-greet events await!
Get ready for some groundbreaking changes at the Mid-Atlantic Tow Show! Carrie shares insights into the revamped raffle process designed to maximize exhibitors' FaceTime with attendees. Learn about the expanded training classes offering crucial knowledge on TEMS training, EV seminars, and level one inspection awareness. Plus, hear the thrilling announcement that PWOF's raffle truck will make its North Carolina debut, giving local towers an exciting chance to win big. Don’t miss out on the details about the highly anticipated Drive Shack event and how you can register for it and other activities through the Tow and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina's Facebook page.
We also delve into the myriad opportunities available within the towing and recovery industry. From selling vehicles through Copart and utilizing Towbook for efficient vehicle management to the short and long-term solutions offered by Wrecker Rentals, we cover essential resources to keep your business running smoothly. Additionally, don’t miss the upcoming reverse raffle with major prizes and the annual beauty contest for trucks—early registration is key! Finally, we wrap up with a heartfelt prayer, expressing gratitude for the dedication and safety of first responders in the industry, and look forward with excitement to the Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo.
Welcome one and all to the Tow Professional Podcast. This is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go. This is truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. I'm DJ Harrington, your co-host, better known as the Toe Doctor, and the real host of the program is the president and publisher of Toe Professional Magazine, a good friend of the industry and a dear friend of mine, Darren Weaver. How are you this beautiful rainy day?
Speaker 2:Man DJ, I am fantastic and I tell you, if I was a frog I'd even be better, I'd be living my best life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's nice, oh man.
Speaker 2:You know being in Georgia and Carrie's dealing with the same. Up there in North Carolina. It is rainy and has been, and it looks like the forecast is more to come. So it's a great day, man. I'm excited there's more to come. So it's a great day, man. I'm excited Today for our guest we have on, carrie Fogg. She is the VP of Operations of Fred's Towing. I think everybody knows Fred. He is absolutely awesome and just one of the kindest men in industry. And Carrie has not only been VP of Operations for Fred's Towing but also president of the Towing Recovery Professionals of North Carolina. And let me tell you we're going to talk today about the Mid-Atlantic Tow Show and what her team has done, what it is phenomenal. So, tj, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Well, buddy, you should be. When we had her on last year. She tried to tell us she goes. Well, I'm not really that good on podcast guys and I said, yeah, you did phenomenal and she'll do a really good job this time. And of course, I think the world's afraid. But tell us a little bit about the Mid-Atlantic Toe Show. I know the dates are September 5th through the 7th, so I want all our listeners to make note of this. Terry, tell us a little bit about it and a little bit of the history.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you all for having me on today and dealing with the same type of weather you guys are. I think I just saw a duck go by in a boat a few minutes ago. That's how bad the rain's been here in North Carolina. So well, we changed a little things this year. We gave the show a new name, so it's the Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo, and we opened that up to expand the vendor options, expand the clientele for different towers to one, two, three. Stop God.
Speaker 2:Your pride, just throw it over.
Speaker 3:To be able to give different towers in different areas the opportunity to come. A lot of people thought that the name that it was just for the North Carolina towers. So we've kind of expanded the thing to bring more towers in and bring different vendors from different areas in.
Speaker 1:So what states are covering? Do you have some people from South Carolina coming? Do you have some people from Georgia coming? Do you have some people from South Carolina coming? Do you have some people from Georgia coming? Do you have some people from Virginia?
Speaker 3:coming. Those are actually the people that we were expanding to DJ those states. Right now. They currently don't have any show shows that are going on, so that's why we wanted to expand out and try to include their states in it as well.
Speaker 1:That'd be fantastic, carrie, and that's well worth it, so that more people that want to come to a statewide show like yours that covers other states, then there's more exhibitors that want to come because there's more people coming.
Speaker 3:Yep, and that's what our goal has been. So we're trying to open it up and advertise it out to south carolina towers, virginia towers in georgia, which we were lucky last year we had a lot of those states participate anyways, even though it was under the north carolina show. So we just kind of changed it, make a little broader, you know, to get some more exhibitors in and just get some more towers.
Speaker 1:Well, the exhibitors that were there that I talked to, every one of them loved it. So, Darren, I'll get you to ask the next one to carry.
Speaker 2:Well, let me fill in a little background, dj. I got to tell you one exhibitor that was there last year that loved it was myself. I was blown away. You know year before last and correct me if I'm wrong, Kerry year before last it was a different board and they had always done the show outside and this was the first year inside. And let me tell you, kerry's team Herner team picked the perfect spot to be in the Jim Graham building. It's a beautiful place, huge facility and there was room for everything, dj and room to grow. So, from a publisher standpoint, like you said, I talked to a lot of the vendors. They were very happy they were there and I talked to a lot of vendors that were very sad they missed it. So I'm hoping to see them this year there. So let me say this let's see One question I know our listeners are going to have Carrie is where can they make reservations for the hotel?
Speaker 3:Well, we changed that this year as well. So we changed it over to the host hotel. It's going to be the Hyatt Place in Raleigh and it's at 710 Corporate Center Drive in Raleigh and we actually have a group rate. So if they're looking to book through the Hyatt, they need to use the code G-T-O-O-W OOW. So we were able to get a really good group rate with them. So we moved over to the Hyatt this year. It's a fairly new facility and then that's also where we're going to have our meet and greet at that Thursday night as well. So we won't have to change locations for those two events.
Speaker 2:I think it's a great place. I've already got my place booked. It's a beautiful facility. And've already got my place booked. It's a beautiful facility and I remember last year that meet and greet was awesome. There was tremendous food, well attended, and let me tell you, y'all don't want to miss a meet and greet this year. It was fantastic and again I've got to give Karen and her staff a big hand because they did a tremendous job. There was, I want to say, 50 plus 50 vendors there and, I want to say, a little over 800 attendees. Is that about right, carrie?
Speaker 3:Yep and we're hoping to have more for this year.
Speaker 2:Yes, definitely, definitely A lot of good things going there. Everybody I'm talking to and mary says it says they're interested in going. And I tell you, when I walked through the parking lot I mean it was a to z there was a bunch of tags there from different states, and that's always good to see. Um, because, dj, just just like the other associations I know carrie and her association they're taking this funding. What goes into this show, what comes out it, the profits they make from it, that goes right back into training, goes into safety, goes into legislation, goes to help their association and to help the owners out there and make sure that their employees come home safe every day. So, with that, let's step away. Listeners, take a quick break, hear from our wonderful sponsors and we'll be back in just a moment, so hang in there.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to Toe Professional on the Go podcast Every week. Darren and I do our best to try to bring you informative episodes like this one here with the Mid-Atlantic Toe Show. Please make sure you download every episode. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. So right before the break, I have to tell all of our listeners I stayed at this beautiful Hyatt Place in Raleigh, cary. It is a great restaurant, great breakfast in the morning, it's a full breakfast and they have a great bar. Take it from a good Irishman it's a good bar right there. Here's what I want to ask Cary what is something new that we can expect at the show this year? The name change, I think, is perfect Mid-Atlantic, welcoming all the southern states. So what's some of the things that we could expect a little different this year?
Speaker 3:Well, one of the main things that is new this year we followed up with a lot of our exhibitors after the show last year and wanted feedback from them of things that were good or some things that we could have worked on. One of the things that North Carolina has always done is a reverse raffle. We talked to the vendors about that and one of the things they said was that our raffle took away from FaceTime with the public. So we went back this year. We've kind of tweaked some things. We're still going to do the reverse raffle, but we're going to do it at the meet and greet and also at the drive-thru event, and then the ticket will be pulled the last day of the show. So that way it gives us a chance for the exhibitors to have more FaceTime with the towers that are coming in. Another thing that we changed this year is training classes. We have added so many more classes to the schedule for this year. One of the main ones that we're trying to put out to the towers is the service member data. We have a TEMS training class that's going to be put on at the show. We've got different seminars on EVs. We've got level one inspection awareness classes going on, so we brought a lot more to the table as far as trying to train drivers and staff members for the tow industry Another thing that a lot of people don't know, and I just got confirmation on it.
Speaker 3:So we're going to start advertising and putting it out. But PWOF will have the truck that they will be raffling off at the Florida show for next year. It will be here at our show this year, so you'll be able to get your ticket here in North Carolina this year. That's the first year that I know they've ever brought the truck in, so it gives the opportunity to the towers in North Carolina this year. That's the first year that I know they've ever brought the truck in, so it gives the opportunity to the towers in North Carolina to get some tickets in and get their chance then to win a truck that normally wouldn't have it if they don't attend the Florida show. So I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 2:Man, that's fantastic, carrie, I think that's great. So they're going to have the Hino truck there that they're going to give away at your show, showcasing it and selling the raffle tickets.
Speaker 3:Yes, sir. So I'm really excited about that because a lot of the tours in North Carolina they don't get the opportunity and chance to go to the Florida shows. So I think this is going to be a great opportunity for them to be able to get some tickets in to be able to get some tickets in.
Speaker 2:Oh man, that's so awesome and I know that I was sitting on that little detail myself behind the scenes and I know that Frank is very excited to have the truck there as well. So that's going to be great. And, dj, I tell you, like I said, they're doing a great job with this. It's unbelievable. I can't believe all the training that you've got there this year, carrie, you've done a fantastic job with that. And let me ask you this Will you tell us a little bit more about the Drive Shack event?
Speaker 3:So the Drive Shack event is going to take place on Friday night, september the 6th. Everything is listed in a link on our Facebook page, which is Tow and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina. You can register for the show. You can register for your classes you want to attend. You can register for the meet and greet. The meet and greet is free. The Drive Shack event it's a $57 cost. So you can do that on the link as well. But let me tell you we had such a phenomenal turnout last year. Just the fellowship, the conversations that was going on. You know there was a lot of smack talking going on. From what I heard, you know who could hit the ball the farthest. But I mean, it gives you that opportunity to conversate with people that you might not have had a chance to prior. So we had a really good turnout last year.
Speaker 2:So I'm really excited and looking forward to that this year. Dj, it's going to be phenomenal and let me tell you, vendors, if you get a chance, be at this DriveShack event. I've seen more sales happen at a relaxed event like this than ever on a sales floor at a show. These events like this, like Kerry said, it's a great way to rub elbows, relax, talk with everybody and let them know what you do in a relaxed environment. And they did a phenomenal job with it last year, so don't miss it this year. Get to that link and get signed up at the Towing Recovery Professionals of North Carolina Facebook page. Make sure you go there.
Speaker 1:Let me ask this before we take a break. Let me ask this question of you Say that I'm an exhibitor. What number should I call that I would like to take a booth at the show. What's the best way to get ahold of you or people in the office?
Speaker 3:The best number to contact is going to be 919-921-8194. Or the email address is trpnc at nctoanorg, so they could get in touch with our executive director if it's still time to get a booth space. But yeah, I mean, we're really looking forward to it. We've got a lot of new things, a lot of changes that are going to be made for the better, so I'm really looking forward to this year's show.
Speaker 1:If I had something for the silent auction. Are you still taking stuff that we could use for the silent auction?
Speaker 3:Yes, and see, that's one thing I forgot to mention that we changed this year. Normally we have a live auction as well. Well, we decided to do away with that also because it just took so much time away from the exhibitors. So we went back and tweaked some things, so we're just going to do the silent auction. But yes, if anybody's interested in donating anything for the silent auction, they can reach out to me through Facebook or my email address is Carrie K-A-R-R-I-E at FredTowingcom. They can reach out to me. We can make arrangements if your local will pick up or if you want to bring and drop off that day. So we've changed a lot of things up. I think that the vendors are going to appreciate this year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think the whole thing's sounding great. So let's take a fast break and, folks, when we come back, we're going to learn a little bit more of what you can do and what to anticipate at the Mid-Atlantic Tow Show. We'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to Toe Professional On-The-Go Podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, and this has been a great one. I've known Carrie a long, long time. I knew her when I had brown hair and I had hair. She and Fred are great people and they're doing a great—. This association has grown tremendously under their leadership. So let me ask this of you, carrie, on the reverse raffle how much are the tickets?
Speaker 1:So I know you have $2,500, then you got $5,000, then you got $10,000. But how much are the tickets?
Speaker 3:The tickets are $100 a piece and we're only selling 500 tickets, so you got a really good shot. Ball 100 that's drawn wins the $2,500. Ball 200 that's drawn wins the $5,000 prize and then the last one wins $10,000. So I know that gentleman and actually we had an exhibitor was the gentleman who won last year, so I know he was excited.
Speaker 1:I wonder if he went home and told his wife he won.
Speaker 3:I doubt it, but if anybody is interested in buying a reverse raffle ticket, you can let me know. We can do credit cards, we can do I do Venmo, we can do cash app. Whatever you need me to do, if you're out of state, you can still buy a ticket and I will keep you updated if you're the winner.
Speaker 1:There you go. Now. You see we have a lot of listeners throughout the whole United States. We have 380 outside the United States, so they may not call. But you never know, you get some of these guys in Germany. They may want to throw $100 in and get some money.
Speaker 3:Never know, I mean, we'll take it.
Speaker 1:I know you really liked it last year when you went and you can see it's getting better and better every year. They just improve upon it.
Speaker 2:Well, matt, let me tell you, dj, like I said the year before, was outside, this was the first year inside. And let me tell you, kerry hit it right on the mark. It rained the morning of I think the second day. It was a given. That was the place you needed to be, was inside, but the attendance, like I said, was fantastic. The events, everything they had going on was great. They had stuff to entertain the kids right there inside the building face painting, different things to entertain the kids so that you could walk the show floor and look over and see that your kids were fine while you were doing it. And the beauty contest blew me away. They had a lot of vehicles participate in the beauty contest last year. So, carrie, tell me, tell us about that, about the beauty contest, and, if somebody's there, whether they're coming from right there in North Carolina, if they're coming from out of state, when they need to be there and a link they need to send to to be a part of the beauty contest.
Speaker 3:So we are going to have the Kids Corner again this year on Saturday. So we'll have the bouncy houses and we'll have face painting and all of that again this year for the kids, which they look so adorable walking around last year with their faces painted, so we are going to have that again. The application is actually in that link as well for the beauty context. Yep. So we're having the cutoff time. I believe it is 9 am on Saturday, the 7th, so we'll have to have the trucks in by 9 o'clock. We do have where. If they come early, we'll get the trucks in. It is for inside. It is first come, first serve um. So if I was anybody, I'd go ahead and try to get um early registration in. It is a little discounted price. If it's received by september 1st, it's 35 and that's for trpnc members. If you're not a member and you still want to put your truck in, it's $50 for early registration and then after September 1st it increases to $45 and $60.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, listen, guys, get your men and women out there. Get your registration in now. That way you can save that extra money. Go get some chrome polish. You had some great looking trucks there last year and let me go over this one more time and tell me if I leave anything out.
Speaker 2:So we've got a meet-and-greet Thursday night, september the 5th. We've got Friday night. We've got the Drive Shack event the night of the 6th. We've got the reverse raffle going on listeners, now winners. This is the last day of the show. They're doing this $2,500, $5,000, $10,000. They're also doing this silent auction Saturday.
Speaker 2:You got the kids' corner. You can walk around, take your time with the vendors, look over across the floor and see your kids are over there having a ball. I hadn't your time with the vendors. Look over across the floor and see your kids are over there having a ball. Haven't even thought about you. So don't miss that.
Speaker 2:And also the links can be found on their Facebook page Towing and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina. You can register for the show classes there. And again this year we were talking about it. Terry said they're going to have a service member data class, a TIMSS data class, tim's training class, level one inspection class, the PWF. He knows what's going to be there that's being raffled, and also at the hotel Hyde Place that's Wally Terry. The group right on that is G-T-O-O-W and if you've got any questions you can call the Towing Recovery Professionals of North Carolina at 919-921-8194, or you can give them an email at trpnc at North Carolina, just nctowingorg. Let me say that one more time. Trpnc at nctowingorg. Carrie, have I left anything out? We need to tell our listeners out, because I don't want them to miss this show this year.
Speaker 3:I don't want them to either. I think some people I know they were curious to see how we're going to handle everything. Last year I had a lot of exhibitors come up to me later on and tell me that oh, we went to the show, they just had to scope it out a little bit. So I'm hoping to bring a lot more exhibitors this year to help the towing industry grow their business and keep up to date on different regulations and stuff in our own state. Just remember for everybody to get those reverse raffle tickets. You don't want to sleep on that. We had a lot of people waited until last minute last year to get tickets and then we didn't have any more available. And then if you're interested in donating something for the silent auction, just let one of us on the board or one of the members know and we'll get up with you to get the prize.
Speaker 1:Hey, gary, if I want to come to the TIMSS classes, this is you know, we got to send messages out and we have to do it on our podcast. If you're having TIMSS training there, what day are you having it?
Speaker 3:It's going to be that Saturday, which is the 7th Right, and it is on the schedule to start at 10 am.
Speaker 1:Folks. This is really important. If you people haven't gone to Tim's classes, they need to go. It's vital and I think it's wonderful that you're having them.
Speaker 2:Definitely, and to back up what Kerry said, I remember when I did my show, kerry, and you, had some of those visitors that said, hey, we just want to walk it, we'll look, we'll maybe go next year, but vendors, let me remind you, when I started my publication back in 2011, the housing market had collapsed, everybody. It was the worst economy since the Dust Bowl. And everybody said what are you doing? Are you crazy? And I said there's two types of people. There's people whining about what's going on. There's people out there that are tree shakers, that are getting after the business.
Speaker 2:Whether you know it or not, your competitor in town one of you is the tree shaker, one of you is the whiner. The tree shaker is going to be at this show. There was a lot of folks there. The vendors were excited, they were happy, had a great show. So make sure you don't wait and see on this one, because this is a great show and if you wait and see, your competitors are going to be doing business there and you're going to miss it. I just got to give you another hand, kerry, for the job that you and your staff has done on this show and I'm excited about coming Now. Unfortunately, I'm trapped doing your show. Right after that we're doing the Midwest regional show Come home, wash the clothes, repeat, and then I'm doing the Chattanooga show. And I just said unfortunately, because I'm afraid my dogs might not recognize me and I could get bit when I come back home from the month of touring there in September. But I'm excited about it.
Speaker 3:I look forward to. We're not going to make the Ohio show this year, but we will be in Chattanooga this year, so I am looking forward to that one as well.
Speaker 2:Fantastic, fantastic. Well, dj, as always. I want to close with a prayer here. Listeners, we certainly appreciate every one of you. You've helped make Toe Professional the number one podcast in the industry.
Speaker 2:Dear Lord, first off, we want to come to you. We want to thank you for the opportunity to reach the listeners here. We want to thank you for the platform for vendors to be able to speak out and to be able to update our public about the events going on. And, lord, we just ask that you keep your hand of protection on our first responders, our men and women of towing out there. Get them out there to do their job and bring them home safely every day. Lord, bless them for their servant's heart, protect our vendors, increase their knowledge and their wealth and prosperity for the work they do, and increase the safety and knowledge in the industry. Good Lord, keep a hand on our nation Until next time. Listeners, we appreciate you. Keep listening and make sure you don't miss the Mid-Atlantic Toe Expo, september the 5th through the 7th, 2024. It's going to be at the Jim Graham Building. You don't want to miss it. Stay tuned for more information from Toe Professional and the Podcast Network. Thank you.