Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
Honoring Heroes and Building Future Ties in Towing
Discover the transformative power of industry events as we share our experiences from pivotal towing expos. Ever wondered how educational opportunities at events like the Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo can enhance the skills of towing professionals and drive legislative progress? Join us as we celebrate the remarkable growth orchestrated by Carrie Fog and her team, with the number of vendors jumping from 10 to an impressive 68. From classes on electric vehicle transport to joy-inducing sessions, these gatherings not only foster community but also equip industry members with the tools they need to excel.
As we shift gears to the Midwest Regional Tow Show, we reflect on profound moments of remembrance and camaraderie. Feel the unity and support that define our industry as we pay tribute to Bobby Unruh, whose legacy inspired "Bobby's Law" in New Mexico. Experience the warmth of a community coming together, from the candlelight vigil to the moving parade, and enjoy the vibrant performance by Chuck Camp's and Three Chord Chaos. These stories underscore a shared commitment to safety and the deep bonds that tie us all together.
Finally, join us as we recount the spirited environment of a recent towing auction event. Picture the excitement of a golf cart giveaway and the practical impact of hazmat training led by experts like Perry Beatty. With the warmth of camping, live demos, and music, these gatherings are a testament to the generosity and resilience of our community. We express gratitude to the individuals who make these events possible and look forward to future discussions on industry challenges, such as the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Together, we celebrate the unwavering dedication of towing professionals and the emotional connections that enrich our field.
Welcome one and all to the Tow Professional Podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go. It's truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. I'm DJ Hamilton, a co-host, better known as the toe doctor, and the real host of this program is the president and publisher of toe professional magazine, a good friend of the industry, a dear friend of mine, the one and only Darren Weaver. Darren, how are you today?
Speaker 2:well, dj, I'm gonna be straight up, 100% honest and tell you my tail is dragging. Because you are right, I am a friend of the industry and I have been traveling since the 3rd of September to make sure that Tow Professional and DJ Harrington gets out there and sees everybody. And that took us all the way out to the Mid-Atlantic Tow Expo in Raleigh, north Carolina, took me up through West Virginia where I got to play for a couple of days in the Hatfield and McCoy Mountains there in West Virginia and then right after that it took me to Wilmington, ohio, back to the house with a little fun with a root canal and straight to Chattanooga. So let me tell you it's a great day not to have to have a root canal. I'm glad to be here. How about you?
Speaker 1:100%. Of course. As you and I said before we started this podcast, we're praying individually for over 200 people lost in the tornado. So as we go through this podcast, I know you will bring it up again.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, I tell you, dj, it absolutely boggles my mind the amount of devastation that we're seeing in some limited news coverage that we're getting from the coast, from Georgia, from Tennessee, from North Carolina, even all the way up into Ohio. And I just want to remind our listeners, even though you're not seeing it a lot on TV, there's a lot of folks out there in need and I know I certainly I'm preaching to the choir when I tell the folks in the towing and recovery industry that some of these folks need help, because I know this is the industry that helps out more than any. I've ever been involved with DJ. So, yeah, I want to remember those folks. We want to remember the families, their losses, what they're going through right now and remember, before you get upset in times like this, just try and picture yourself in other people's shoes, cause there's a lot of people carrying a lot more weight than you are these days. Um, so just give them a little grace. And, uh, dj, hey, let's start off and let's talk about the mid Atlantic toe expo.
Speaker 2:Carrie fog and her staff, I tell you DJ, uh, at, the towing and recovery professionals of North Carolina did a tremendous job on this and it was held this year, the 5th through the 7th, at the Jim Graham Building in Raleigh, north Carolina.
Speaker 2:And vendors, let me tell you, if you haven't been there, it is an unbelievable huge building. They're able to have everything under one roof all the vendors under a roof, all of your beauty contests and, let me tell you, there was probably 30-plus trucks there that were being judged for the beauty contest and also activities for the kids right there on the floor and then you could eat right there in the same building as well. Across the parking lot, dj, they had a 4x4 event. They had the big monster trucks that were running at a separate event right inside it, cause the Jim Graham building sits in the middle of the state fairgrounds, so tremendous location. And let me tell you, last year they had brought this event from 10 vendors the year before and about a hundred attendees to 48 vendors. Dj, this year there was 68 plus vendors and I would say around 700 to 900 attendees. Hard for me to tell. I was passing out magazines, kissing babies and shaking hands, but it was busy Friday and it was busy Saturday.
Speaker 1:Fantastic. I think more people are going to shows because they want to learn more from what's called the Isle of Existence the people that are good enough to help the industry, especially a state association putting on a show like North Carolina.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I tell you it makes a big difference when the show that you're going to, you know that the money's going back into the legislation, the money's going back into training and, speaking of that, you know the towing and recovery professionals in North Carolina. They had free training there for the attendees and that was put on DJ by Allstate Roadside September the 6th. They had two classes One at 2 o'clock. They had an electric vehicle transport class to go through the fundamentals there. At 3 o'clock they had one on understanding today's vehicles, because what we've seen is a lot of your pickup points, your places where your bridle, your J-hooks would go on Older vehicles. That's changed on these new vehicles and especially on the electric vehicles.
Speaker 2:The next day, allstate on Saturday, they had 11 o'clock, avoiding damage claims, which is when it comes to our tow professionals, our owners and industry. That's a hot topic and it's one that's very important. So they gave a lot of the tips, tricks of the industry, things to do that would protect you as a business owner, and then's one that's very important. So they gave a lot of the tips, tricks of the industry, things to do that would protect you as a business owner. And then at 1 o'clock they came back and they did are you working the job or is the job working you? And I tell you that's one that our good friend Messina's talked about in the past is are you enjoying what you're doing or is the job just working you to death? And they had a lot to say about that and ways to encourage employees and show them how they could really enjoy the job and take passion in it and enjoy what they were doing.
Speaker 2:So fantastic event, dj. And let me tell you, like I said, it stayed busy all day Friday, stayed busy all day Saturday and they had many other things going on. They had a silent auction. That was fantastic. That went back to help the, if I'm correct, the injured drivers fund. They had a reverse raffle. There was three spots on that. I think it was $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000 giveaway. That's two years, in a way, they've done this. And they also had this year for the first time, hino had their truck there at the North Carolina show. You had Frank Enos from the PWOF, that is a volunteer that that man will get out there, jump in the truck and take it to different states to give owners, drivers, folks in that area the ability to win that truck and I tell you that was something that not only North Carolina was excited about the association, the whole staff there, but also the attendees to have an ability to win that truck. So a lot of tickets were bought there. It was a fantastic show and one I hope to attend here in the future.
Speaker 1:Well, you got it right. And our friend Frank, he does a good job with that truck.
Speaker 2:Man. Let me tell you, dj, I've got pictures of that truck in Ohio, got pictures of that truck in North Carolina. We've got pictures of that truck in Ohio, got pictures of that truck in North Carolina. We've got pictures of that truck in Tennessee. I think we also have pictures of it in Wisconsin. So we're going to do a big collage just to give back to Hino, to show the industry, to show off and show the industry what Hino does and the amount they put into the industry to showcase a truck like that around the market and to put it out there so that somebody can win it. Because we know a lot of the winners in the past has really changed their life and helped them out tremendously. So it's a big thing and we were excited that the great folks at North Carolina allowed them to bring the truck up, show it off and give their drivers the ability and owners the ability to win it.
Speaker 1:Well, frank does a great job, I tell you, and of course, carrie did a great job up in North Carolina. Let's do this how about we take a fast break and when we come back then we can hit on the Ohio show and go from there?
Speaker 2:Sounds great DJ.
Speaker 1:We'll be right back and go from there. Sounds great, DJ. We'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. You know you're listening to the Toad Professional On the Go podcast. Every week we will bring you new informative episodes like the one you're listening to right now. Make sure you download and listen. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, which is the number one media platform. We're available on Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. So, without further ado, let's talk, darren, about the Midwest Regional Toast Show up in Ohio. Your dear friend Bruce Bender, what do you say?
Speaker 2:about that man. I tell you that's always one of my favorite shows, tj, just for a couple things One, the Ohio Tow Show and the towing recovery professionals there. They certainly know how to honor their fallen. And I tell you what Bruce did there, uh, with the uh parade of celebration of life for the fallen that had passed, um, it just blew me away. I don't know if I've got a correct count on it. I know I did a video on it, but I would say we had at least 75 to 100 trucks, um, in that parade. Um, that took part.
Speaker 2:Andj, I remember seeing your car in there with Bobby Unrow on the side of the vehicle, just giving back memory to the fallen, to Bobby that fell. It was Linda Unrow's son, killed by an 18-wheeler that was distracted and left the road and that later led to Linda getting the law changed there in New Mexico and it's now called Obby's Law that enforces a slowdown, move over. So that event was incredible, much less the opportunity at the—I always loved the lighting of the candles there we're given opportunities to say the prayer and honor the fallen as well. Those things, just right off the top of my head, without even the interaction of the vendors or so on are just some of the top things I enjoy with that show.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I had the privilege of in my co-pilot in my car representing Bobby Unruh, who passed away in 2017. Just as you said, darren, a terrible 18-wheeler just crashed right into him, didn't even give him a chance, never slowed down. But my co-pilot was the one and only Brian R reicher, the ds. He and I rode together in a parade and it was called celebration of life slow down, move over awareness event. It was all sponsored by our dear friend gay rochester from ina towing, you know network, and there was enough pig roast to feed four more times the people. Everyone had seconds and thirds. It was fantastic. All of the side dishes were delicious. It was.
Speaker 1:It was really really good and of course, I decorated my business. A lot of people did. They had over 75 cars, 75 vehicles which you were correct on, so they really did a great job and celebration of life. The very next night, Matt Spencer, who's the father of Keane Spencer, who lost his son this year, enters on the wall at a fallen, which we'll talk about in the next segment. But Matt and I spoke in Ohio reminding all the loved ones there that, whether you've got you lost a loved one work in the white line or you lost a loved one in the industry from a heart attack or for some other disease or illness, they wanted to remember everyone and that's what we did.
Speaker 1:So it was a very, very emotional and very well thought out program by Bruce Bender and the people from TRAO. They did an outstanding job, and Connie and that whole team there did a great job, I'll tell you I love going to that.
Speaker 2:They had a tremendous turnout, had a great turnout for the beauty contest. Always love the light show there. And let me tell you that, the camping area. I think a lot of people really enjoyed the camping area, from the RVs to primitive camping and, like you said, there was plenty of food and DJ. And I got up the next morning, walked over. The whole team at Weissert Insurance was over there. They were making pancakes, sausage, bacon and coffee. They were ready to take care of anybody straggling across the parking lot and I took them up on it. It was a great breakfast there with some good friends and left there and headed on.
Speaker 2:But, as we all know, first off I want to thank all our vendors that were there. We got some phenomenal people there and one I just want to speak to that's dear and dear to my heart is Derek DeAngelo with Custom Built. Love this man. He makes a tremendous product. Him and his son, nick do. And when I told him I said man, tell me why you come to the Midwest Regional Show, and he said because I always do and I love that.
Speaker 2:If we all had that mentality that these are association shows and when this time of year kicks off. It's something that backs our industry and it's just something we do. It's just part of what we do. I think this industry would be helped a whole lot more DJ in the long run. So I love that heart from him, I love the show and, from what I understand, I know a lot of people in this industry are asking you know what direction are they looking? I know they are looking to get back over to the lodge where we were for many years. So any feedback on that you want to put in yes, I want to tell all of our listeners.
Speaker 1:You know I've always said this is the most family friendly show and we have a sponsor, tote Book, sponsor of the podcast, and they were the sponsor of the music and the food for the party on the 14th of September, a Saturday night and was three court chaos. Was the band, yeah, and our podcast producer Chuck camps band, uh, did a great job. Phenomenal was the sponsor. And when they say they're karaoke people, they are karaoke people.
Speaker 2:Oh man.
Speaker 1:They know how to do karaoke.
Speaker 2:You are a kid For a karaoke person. I make a heck of a salesperson DJ, so I just stay in my lane. But there were some folks really that has been one of the biggest hits there, so that was great to watch. And Three Chord Chaos, let me tell you Chuck and his band they don't play, they get out there and I think Chuck sang what 38 out of 42 songs that they do. So Chuck just laid it down. He's got a lot more talent than he than he shows us just here with the podcast folks. So it was a heck of a night and I think with with the ability to possibly go back to the Great Wolf Lodge, I think that will be tremendous for the Midwest. With the ability to possibly go back to the great wolf lodge, I think that will be tremendous for the Midwest regional show.
Speaker 2:But again, folks, you know that decision was made during COVID. They said they'd much rather have half full at full price than all full at half price and that's what made the Midwest Regional have to move. So this year there's a possibility they might come back in 25 to the Wolf Lodge. We're going to put that in the trusting hands of Bruce and Connie and the team there. There's some tremendous folks and let me tell you this is a family show. I know this was their 46th year DJ and I hope to see them for another 30, 40, 50 years, because it's a tremendous team and they do an unbelievable job. They put their heart and soul in it.
Speaker 1:Well, I want to tell all of our listeners the famous people from Toe Force filmed myself and Brian Riker. Chuck Camp, our producer, did a song called the Toe man and it was in the same music format of the Blues Brothers and all of a sudden they took it and said instead of Soul man, I was a toe man, and Chuck Camp wrote the words and I talked my friend in Ryan Riker to go up with me and the two of us sang to the audience and they loved it and, of course, they helped us out with all the choruses I'm a tow man, ba-da-da, ba-da-da.
Speaker 1:It was good, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1:It was a lot of fun and if you go on Tow Force you can see the whole thing, and I want to remind our listeners that on Friday night you sponsored the auction and the auction was very, very successful. You and Austin Insurance and, of course, a lot of others Schaefer Towing, albus Towing and Crane Service all of these good people, along with Tow Professional, sponsored the Friday night auction and that turned out to be great. The auctioneer just had a great personality and the generosity of the towers in this industry are phenomenal.
Speaker 2:Without a doubt.
Speaker 2:Without a doubt, dj, that blew me away. Tremendous auction and let's thank all the folks that give every single year and make sure that they excuse me, that they put in something to be offered to raise money and that says a lot for our community. And, like I said, I've been in publishing almost 30 years and I've never seen the hospitality, humbleness, good-hearted people and just service hearts that I've seen in this industry. That's why it makes me just want to plant my feet here and never leave tremendous people. And, like you said, the auction was wonderful yeah, the 50-50 raffle went off wonderful.
Speaker 1:the golf cart. You didn't have to be pretty present to win. It was a four-person golf cart and I didn't have to be present to win. It was a four-passenger golf cart. And I have to tell you, the lady that won the golf cart was sitting right there when they pulled the number and it was fantastic. I mean, folks, this is the most beautiful golf cart that I ever saw. Yeah, the four-passenger golf cart. It was really, really nice and, sure enough, a lot of times you get disappointed because the person who won you didn't have to be present to win. You know to be there and, sure enough, the lady that did win was right there in the audience.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it was great, Love it.
Speaker 2:Love it, love it, great show. I mean, like I said, from being able to camp on site to the live demos they had. I remember Perry Beatty was there with cargo control and he had his cargo stop. I know Perry Beatty was there with Hazmat Responder Network and he was doing cargo and hazmat training right there in the parking lot and let me tell you it was hands-on. As soon as I pulled up there at the show I was able to get out, take some photos and listen to some of the training that he does and it was phenomenal.
Speaker 2:So you know, ohio is always great place to support the live auction, great place for beauty contests, karaoke over the top out of this world there at the show. The live band let me tell you he's one of ours, so I might be a little biased, but phenomenal as always. And then even the breakfast and awards on Sunday. Trao does a phenomenal job and I just got to give it back to them and I just tell our vendors and our folks in the market hang with us, come back for the 47th Midwest Regional and I think it'll knock your socks off.
Speaker 1:I agree with you wholeheartedly and our friend you know, terry Beatty, with that hazmat cargo tank awareness class and everybody who graduated all that with certification.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Phenomenal.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, oh yeah. He does a great job and he even has the displays. That is exactly what you would be looking at if you had a tanker truck flipped over on its side or you had some kind of emergency checking from grounding before you get started from using the stingers to pop off the trucks, from accessing it to be able to use the stinger. It's a, like I said, it's a top the bottom course and you send your guys through there and let me tell you you've just added another line of business to the company because that Hazmat Responder he does, and then the Taker Awareness class is phenomenal and that can add a whole other revenue stream right to your business. So remember Perry Beatty. He's been a friend of ours for over 13 years. Great Christian man, phenomenal heart and just a passion for this industry with hazmat responder network so brian reicher spoke at the at the conference.
Speaker 1:Uh po buddy, you know joey castellano, he spoke and he great demonstration. I spoke and of course I did a great program, but it was just really well done. The whole thing and bruce, bruce bender and the whole team there really gives you so much for your time and effort to come. It was really, and you're right, there was 10 times more people in the campground this year.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, I think we like camping in this industry and I'll second that because that's what I did before I got there. So I think it's something we all enjoy 100%. Well, I tell you, dj, let's do this, let's take another break. Listeners stay there, and when we come back, we're going to talk about another tow show, because we've had a gaggle of them this month. We're going to talk about Chattanooga and a little bit about Hurricane Helene that came in while we were at that show. So stay with us, hang on to what you got, we'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Yes, it is Joe, professional on the Go podcast. Now, if you need a pro, you want to hear on this podcast. You let Downan and I know Just call the hotline number here at the podcast center 706-409-5303. And Downan and I cannot thank you enough for how many of you have hit, like and review and share everywhere. We sure do appreciate you telling fellow towers and recovery experts to call on and listen to the Professional On the Go podcast. So, darren, let me ask this If you had to talk about the Tennessee show now me, I enjoy the people greet on Friday to the Saturday wall or the fallen.
Speaker 1:I'd like to turn it over to you to kind of get your highlights.
Speaker 2:Oh man, let me tell you it was a tremendous weekend. And let me tell you, the towing and recovery industry is a rain or shine industry and that showed this past weekend rain or shine industry. And that showed this past weekend when I got in town. I had some. We had some of our friends over there at Bimson power with warrior wits, that I met up with. We, we went over to the museum. Our great friends there at Bimson power were giving a donation to the survivor fund. That was one percent of their online sales. Uh, so they, they gave a percentage there and actually even went above that. So I was there for to take a picture of that, uh, them giving the check to the survivor fund.
Speaker 2:And we got to take a tour of the museum and let me tell you, um, what they've done over there. Lauren, her crew, crew over there, godwin, the rest of them has done a tremendous job. It's hard to come in that museum and make it look fresh every time, but they've done it from the gift shop to the area downstairs in the basement where they've loaded several new vehicles downstairs and also a one-of-a-kind Willys Jeep, dj, that was used to tow other Willys Jeeps off the production line. They only made three of them. There's only one left and the museum has it. It was donated there, so got to see that and they had a wall inside the museum that you could put a pedal car on with your company name on it and those were spots that raised just that night the sponsorship night over $50,000 for the museum. So great things happened there between Wednesday there and the sponsorship night.
Speaker 2:But then I tell you, the show Friday the wind and rain was blowing sideways. I as a vendor didn't want to get out in the water. I saw ducks that were thinking about it and just saying, hey, we'll wait another day, but we made it. We made it there. We had some decent foot traffic on Friday. Everyone knew that the storm would affect us, but on Saturday it was a great show. We had some tremendous foot traffic on Saturday.
Speaker 2:But I think the biggest highlight for me is the Wall of the Fallen. It touched me 13 years ago when I went there and saw the event and saw the number of families and DJ. I tell you this year we had many families more than I could count on one hand that had more than three children left behind from losing a loved one in the line of service and that's just heartbreaking. But to be able to be there, to be able to hand out a magazine with their loved one's name on the front cover in remembrance and honor them, and to be there during that event, to see that they are honored and memorialized in front of their peers, is phenomenal and that really speaks to me. And that's why Tow Professional has done the two-page spread and the publication for many years.
Speaker 2:And this year I spoke with the board there at the museum, told them I needed their help and, dj, what we're going to start doing is we're going to move that two-page spread down to a half-page island but we're going to start including a story from the loved ones of the fallen. We want to give them the space to come in here and tell the story about their mother, their sister, their father, their brother. You know that was out there, that made a difference and that gave their life for service. We want to give them the opportunity to highlight them in these pages and then have the call to action for the Survivor fund to remind others how much it matters and the difference and I think right now, dj, it's a non-member payment of 10,000 and a member payment of 20,000.
Speaker 1:And thank Ingram from Georgia. Yes, sir, his family and you wrote about him.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir, and Tegan, Spencer.
Speaker 1:Spencer and his wife Jenny was there.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I got to talk with Matt and Jenny there. Me and you both talked with them and got to get a picture with Matt that we're going to use to promote slow down, move over. And you know that's a man that's that's on a mission that is out to to help make this industry safer and as he's a good Christian man, he knows things happen for a reason and he's looking to use this to glorify God and I just bless him for that. I hope God blesses him and grows him for that.
Speaker 1:Well, sheila, my wife said to me when Ingram's name was called how did you respond? I choked up. I started crying because I want all of you to know. I started crying because I want all of you to know. Eight years ago, frank Ingram was called to my car at a 7-Eleven store.
Speaker 2:I had a.
Speaker 1:Hispanic gentleman cutting my lawn, and Solomon has cut my lawn for over four years and he and I went to the 7-Eleven store to get some cold drinks In his case water, it may be beer. Well, we're there and Solomon locked my keys in the car.
Speaker 1:The fire department comes out, cannot open the door. They call Frank Ingram. Frank Ingram comes to the 7-Eleven store because we're neighbors. He goes in. I've never met him ever. He walks over, looks at me and goes you're the toe doctor? I said yes, I am. He said I'm Frank Ingram, I own this company and no charge. And the fire department guy looks at me and said you're a celebrity, huh? I said no, no. I write for a professional magazine and Frank reads the magazine. We hadn't started the podcast yet.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Years ago. This is our third year, and so when his name was called, I was all choked up because he's such a wonderful guy, just like with matt spencer, his kid. That's a great guy. Linda, unruh, bobby, and all these families, all 31 that are on the front cover of the professional 31 that are on the front cover of. Supervisional. Wonderful, wonderful people that gave their life to people. That's what it was.
Speaker 2:That was, I would say, the highlight of the weekend is being able to give back to those families, being able to see how they cherish the magazine, to be able to take that home with their loved one on the cover, and that makes it worthwhile for me, dj. I tell you, you see, there's a lot of angels in this industry. Some of them stay here a long time, some of them stay here a short time. But again, I mean it when I say it. I've never seen the heart like I have in this industry, amongst these men and women. They have a servant's heart and they'll give you the shirt off there back to help you. And again, let's remember folks see that these are the same type people that have been affected by these storms across the southeast Good, blue-collar and middle-class folks that are hardworking, that would give you everything they have to help you out. So let's not only remember them in prayer, but I certainly know our brothers and sisters in the towing industry that are in those areas are already in action, helping, because we know their hearts.
Speaker 1:Darren and I hope all our listeners. If you want to give, you could either go to the russorg or Samaritan's Purse. I know for a fact we had a lady call my wife just the other night and said could you, dj, pray for my grandson? He was on his way back to college up in the Black Hills of North Carolina and the road slid. They have not found the young man yet.
Speaker 2:So many of those stories that need our prayers. I tell you, it's a lot of things that scare us, but the things we're scared of are scared of our Savior Jesus, so all we can do in a situation like that is put it in His hands. I tell you that DJ Very scary, but we just hope that the peace that surpasses all understanding fills these families and hope fills them and brings them through this.
Speaker 1:Well, I hope, when we end this podcast this time and you always say a prayer every time, which I think is wonderful that you pray for our readers, you pray for our advertisers, you pray for the people involved in our industry, but this time extended out to all of the over 200, as of we're doing this recording over 200 lost in this last hurricane.
Speaker 2:I think it's a lot worse than most people can imagine. I've seen combat veterans on Facebook talking about what they've seen in Tennessee and North Carolina and says it's as bad as war that they've went into as war-torn areas because of the amount of damage. So we'll certainly keep these folks in your prayers and anything you can do. Remember RedCrossorg. There's a lot of folks in there trying to help out.
Speaker 1:Exactly, it's American. First and I mentioned RedCrossorg is our dear friend Gay Rochester. She does so much for the Red Cross, she does the towing for the Red Cross and we're proud to know her and we're proud that you'll be doing a story about her in the upcoming issue of Tow Professional.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, we've got a fantastic story on women of towing that's going to cover Gay Rochester. She is one of the most humble people I've ever met. Does not like to talk about herself, so we'll do it for her. So we'll have an editorial on the upcoming issue, talking about her, INA Towing Network and their collaboration with TRAA on the slowdown move over, and it is phenomenal and something that's going to make a big splash nationally and a sport that a lot of us watch, which is NHRA racing, so very, very excited about that. She's made some big moves and that's again because of her commitment to safety in this industry and making sure our tow professionals get home safe.
Speaker 1:There you go, my friend. Well, I'll turn it over to you, Darren.
Speaker 2:Well, I tell you, dj, like I said, it's been a. It's been a wild and crazy month. One thing I do want to mention I did not mention it in this issue because the issue went out before I was able to come back but I did have the honor to receive an award this past weekend from the International Towing Hall of Fame Museum and that museum was with. It's an award that says it's a sincere thank you, uh for dan weaver, for your ongoing support of the towing museum and survivor fund and friends. That's just simply uh. I never looked to get that. I thought once I started working for myself I was done getting awards when I was working. Um, so this was out of the blue for me. But they said, as a commitment for what we've done to promote the Survivor Fund over the 13 years, our commitment here getting a month set aside for slowdown move over here in Alabama working with Governor Ivey to do so two years in a row, and we're still working to get that. Covid slowed us up some on it, but we've had it two years in a row. I'll take that back. We had it three years. One of them didn't make it here because of COVID, but it was set aside as a month and we did that a month of December, three years in a row. So it's something we'll continue to do. Our commitment is for safety and to bring our tow operators home safe, our tow professionals, every day.
Speaker 2:So with that I'll conclude and say, dear Heavenly Father, you know our nation is hurting. You know your earth is crying out. We've got folks across North Carolina, georgia, tennessee, ohio and the coast that don't know where their next meal will come from. They don't know where their clothing's coming from, their water, electricity Definitely, father, I just say you put a hedge of protection around them. Watch over them, dear Lord, just like Job that lost it all. Dear Lord, I just hope that you bless them. I pray that their increase be mind-blowing and be used to glorify you, father, that you provide them with increase, with prosperity, with wealth. Be mind-blowing and be used to glorify you, father, that you provide them with increase, with prosperity, with wealth and health for everything they went through.
Speaker 2:Fathers, I ask you, bless our vendors with more knowledge, growth, ability to come up with products that will continue to keep up with safety and bring our men and women home safe. And, father, bless every one of our tow professionals out there in the industry and bless the families of our fallen, be with them, give them the peace and fill them with the Holy Spirit. Let Him be the comforter for them, lord, and let the Holy Spirit be the comforter for those that have lost their loved ones across the southeast here from Hurricane Helene. We hate that this has happened. Our heart breaks for them, lord, but we ask that you be with them in this. And, dear listeners, we thank you for your loyalty, for you listening to Toe Professional and tuning in. We'll continue to bring you great episodes like this and many more Until next time be covered. Be protected by God Until then. God bless you.