Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
Trucks, Trade Shows, and Thermal Runaways: The Tow Pro's Guide
Ready for the towing industry's biggest shows? September brings two of the year's most anticipated events, and this episode gives you the inside scoop on what makes them special.
The Mid-Atlantic Expo (September 4-6) transforms the North Carolina State Fairgrounds into a hub of industry innovation with over 75 vendors and 800+ serious industry professionals. As Darian explains, "You had owners perusing up and down the aisles looking for information," making it valuable for both attendees and exhibitors. The nearby attractions and affordable vendor rates create an experience that extends beyond just business.
But when DJ discusses the 47th Annual Midwest Regional Tow Show (September 25-27), his enthusiasm reaches another level. "It's the most family-friendly show of the year," he declares, describing how the Great Wolf Lodge venue becomes home to a complete experience for towing families. With dedicated "Little Tow-ers" activities each night including movies and pajama parties, no one is left out of the fun.
What truly distinguishes these state association shows from commercial events is their purpose and community impact. Every dollar spent at these shows funds critical industry needs: training programs, safety initiatives, and legislative advocacy. Unlike commercial shows that charge for seminars, these events offer all educational content at no extra cost. The Midwest show's Celebration of Life parade honors fallen towers, while their Injured Driver's Fund auction demonstrates the industry's commitment to taking care of its own.
The conversation shifts to groundbreaking EV solutions featured in Tow Professional Magazine, including Zips' new Firebox—a revolutionary containment system that protects against 5000°F lithium battery fires while preventing hazardous chemical leakage. This innovation not only enhances safety but creates potential new revenue streams for towing businesses.
Whether you're planning your show schedule or searching for the latest safety technology, this episode delivers essential insights for anyone committed to the towing profession. Subscribe today and join the community of professionals staying ahead in this rapidly evolving industry.
Welcome one and all to Toe 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 this program is the president and publisher of Toe Professional Magazine, a good friend of the industry and a dear friend of mine, darren Weaver. Darren, this is a beautiful day in Atlanta. How are you in Birmingham, alabama?
Speaker 2:Man. I am fantastic, as always, dj. It's a great week in Alabama to be a frog. I can tell you that We've had enough rain here. I've got a moat in the backyard and I'm just missing Sir Lancelot on his horse, but besides that, we've got some sunshine peeking through and it's starting to dry up a little bit. So my Greyhound 500 races might be off. The mud races might be off this week if it dries out. But hey, I tell you I'm excited about this show. It's with my favorite host and also my favorite guest, dj Harrington.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I'm only your guest on the second segment, that's right. You're the guest.
Speaker 2:The host, good friend, do all, and book of knowledge. Oh, yeah. Well, thank goodness.
Speaker 1:Hey, darren, I want to tell our listeners you, you know, you're really the guest on the first segment. Then we do a commercial break, then I come back and tell you all about my favorite show of all shows. But let's start off this so that our listeners know what we're talking about. Yes, sir, I want to talk.
Speaker 1:We really are darren approaching the show season and you what we're talking about. So I want to talk. We really are, darren, approaching the show season and you know we just got off the heels of the Las Vegas show and the show, I guess, is coming. But you and I were both at the Florida show. That was one thing, but what I want to know about and tell our listeners about the trpnc, north carolina, the mid-atlantic expo, is what they call it. Yes, what can you tell our listeners about that show?
Speaker 2:man. Let me tell you that's a that's a fantastic show, and what I want to do use this session for is to point our listeners to where they can get more information on this show. As we've talked about in the past, as we talked about with Jerry Barber, the president, on a couple of episodes ago, I attended that show two years in the past. It's a great show. It's really gaining some steam and it's one I tell you vendors can certainly benefit from. It's a great entry level price to get in there. You get a lot for your coverage and there's so many attractions around it. Everything is real easy to get to and it's just a beautiful area.
Speaker 2:But that is coming up September the 4th through the 6th and let me tell you the way this year has been moving. Dj, that's going to be here before we know it, and listeners, I want to point you in the direction of their website. Nctowingorg is a place where you can get all the information on this show. It's something if you want to be there at the show and attend it or if you want to be a vendor. All the information's here and when you look under events and training, that's going to point you where you want to go to find out information on this show.
Speaker 2:It's going to show that it's at the Jim Graham building, that's at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. And let me tell you, bring your family with you, because not only will the show be going on, but every year I've been there there's been. There's several other things right there in the fairground parking lots. There was a monster truck event while we were there. There was a antique clothing trading event, vintage clothes. There was a coin event at another building. So there was a lot of things to do. If the wife or the children get a little tired of walking around there, you can send them for another place to find some more excitement right there in the parking lot. And again, that's at the Jim Graham building and that's September the 4th through the 6th, so really looking forward to it, dj.
Speaker 1:Now, since you answered question one and you answered question two, let me ask this one that's not written down. Tell our listeners a little bit of what you did after you went to that show. On your way up to the from the Mid-Atlantic, you went to the midwest show. Yeah what did you do in between?
Speaker 2:tell our listeners that oh man, we stopped in between at the cambalosian national uh park and stayed there in a 1930s cabin uh for four days and trail road. They had a lot of ohv trails for your off-road vehicles and I rode 110 miles of trails in three days with the Bronco Badlands I have. So it was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward. I've already talked with Jerry Barber and I'm looking forward to, after the show, trying to talk him into doing a little trail ride in there in North Carolina because this is gorgeous there. But also one thing I want to tell our listeners, dj is this year, because of the growth of the show, there's two hotels host hotels and they just put that information out on the website. So one of the hotels is the Hyatt Place in Raleigh and then the other hotel is the Hampton Inn in Suites in Raleigh, the Linvo Center. So when you go to the website there you're able to find all of that information and that's at nctowingorg. And then when you just click and look under events, you'll find the information on the show. You can click on it and as for exhibitor or attending materials, and you will be able to find out all the information on the hotel solicited right there. So, yeah, that's one DJ. I mean it's a. It's a great time of year because it's starting to cool off some uh beautiful area.
Speaker 2:And let me tell you, like I said, second year of the show, uh, I want to say there was 75 plus vendors there, around 800 plus attendees, and you had not a lot of people walking by to grab swag off the table. You had a lot more owners that were perusing up and down the aisles and looking for information and also, like I said, they've got training going on at this event. So not only can you see some of the latest products, but you can go there, network and also be able to attend some training and leave there with some more valuable skills. With that, before I just keep running my trap, let's take a quick commercial here from some of our great sponsors and we'll be back in just a minute. Listeners, hang in there.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to Top Professional on the Go podcast Every week. Darren and I do our best to bring you informative episodes like this one here about the trade shows. Now I want to remind all of our listeners we're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. We are there. So, without further ado, let me turn it over to Darren so Darren can ask me about mine. Turned it over to Darren.
Speaker 2:So Darren can ask me about mine. All right, DJ. So let me ask this. Let's talk about one of my favorite shows, the 47th Annual Midwest Regional Toe Show. Tell us about it. I know you're excited at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Speaker 1:And that's what you said, the right word at the Great Wolf Lodge. The article I have coming out in the magazine and so I want you all to know and I put in here the number one magazine in the country is talking about the number one show coming up, and I call it Because it is we're back. We're back at the Great Wolf Lodge and this is a show. It's the most family friendly show of the year. It starts September 25th through the 27th. There are so many things. Three states put it on, ohio puts it on, kentucky puts it on and West Virginia puts it on.
Speaker 1:But last year we had people from florida, georgia camp, this chuck camp who's the producer of our podcast. His band played at the show and all of a sudden I'm saying look, how many towers we have from georgia, and then a bunch of people from florida comes over and says hey, hey, dj, we're from Florida and we're here. So they come from all over the United States to this show. But I'm going to tell you one of the reasons why I like it. Besides, they have that you know, apparel program. They have where I strutted around and showing the new apparel out.
Speaker 4:And I was not in love, yeah not in love.
Speaker 1:I was part of the show but I enjoy Friday night. They have an injured driver's fund. Now, when you walk into the room, there is food, there is drinks, there is wall-to-wall donations from towing companies, from vendors, from exhibitors. They line the wall with these items to auction off. They have a professional auctioneer there, there's music there, it is a fun night and all the proceeds go to the Injured Driver Fund.
Speaker 1:That's one of the things I really like Thursday night. I get there early because at 5.30, they're going to kick off the parade and it's a celebration of life and it's a celebration that they do to remember the ones lost. So I did Linda Unruh's son, bobby, who lost his life towing a tractor trailer and he was hit by a vehicle, and this is an event on Thursday night. The trucks go first in a procession, then the passenger cars follow. You put signs on the trucks and on your cars and you honor the loved ones that we have lost.
Speaker 1:This is a statewide production and there's a difference, and I know Darren's going to ask him. I want to get his opinion. At the same time, I believe that this is the most family friendly show, because every night is Little Toeers night. They have movies, they have pajama parties, they have everything that you can think about A beauty contest. They have competitive driving for truck drivers that want to come and show their skills. Our friend Toe Buddy is going to be there doing his demonstration, and Darren you know Joey pretty well.
Speaker 2:Joey's a great guy with a fantastic product DJ.
Speaker 1:So he's going to do a demonstration there at the show and people don't realize you can bring your own alcoholic beverage for all your hotel rooms and all that stuff. They only ask that when you're walking around in between all the bands set up every night, that the the cash bar will be from the Great Wolf Lodge. That's the only thing that they made a comment about, because a lot of people they bring their own and by all means bring your own folks, because this is an event that's for families. So every night they have children, they have little towers, families. So every night they have children, they have little towers and they take care of the children. So that you can go to your own events. And I want everyone on Friday night, if you're looking for me, just go by the Injured Driver Fund, because that's where I'll be. I donate items and you should bring an item or two yourself and you're not going to believe how many gorgeous things. Well, darren, you could tell them some of the things that it was unbelievable.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's, it's, it's phenomenal. Every year blows me away the, the, the heart and outpouring of our industry on the items that are brought in to donate to raise funds, on the items that are brought in to donate to raise funds, and you see the same folks that have put in to make sure that they bring something that will raise good money for the industry, for the injured drivers will also be right there alongside bidding, trying to take their hard-earned money and to make sure that it goes to support our injured drivers. So that's why you know, dj, this isn't the biggest one in industry but I believe the most family-focused and the most time that you get, to be able to take your time with a vendor and walk through your needs and be able to spend some time with them. Now it's a it can be a busy show, but it's a lot more personal size show where you can spend more time and get your questions answered at, and there is a lot of training that goes on.
Speaker 2:And then Thursday they have the golf outing that's sponsored by Sandy's and that's always a a great event. It's just something that's goes a long way and it's always fun, especially the candlelight vigil. That's. That's phenomenal, very touching. That's done there as well as the the light show. When they do that, dj, that's when all the families just fan out into the parking lot and hang out and talk and admire each other's vehicles and I tell you it couldn't be better based on those events.
Speaker 1:Well, I want to remind all of the people, bill Johnson, when I brought a sign from my office and Bill Johnson said all right, dj, so what are the items you brought? And Bill Johnson bids on the item. Some guy wanted it. Bill Johnson bids on it again, but they did it intentionally. And when you talked about seminars and training, I want to remind all our listeners there is no cost to go to a class at the Midwest Toe Show. There is no cost, there is no fee. Every one of the classes are set up so that you can attend without paying an extra fee. And this is you know. And even the woman's luncheon that's on Saturday. It's a whole $20 to go and you land up coming home with $30 or $40 worth of stuff for your $20. Because so many vendors have donated to make sure it's a successful event. So that's another one of the reasons. The other thing that I want to talk about, if it's alright with you, darren, is I want to talk about why a state show is so different than a large commercial show.
Speaker 2:I tell you, dj, the biggest thing is this you know a lot of the, a lot of. I know I'm going to speak for my state alone. A lot of the members and or non-members of associations might not understand where the funds go with an association. But when it comes to our associations in this towing industry, the funds go with an association. But when it comes to our associations in this towing industry, the funds go directly into training safety lobbyists and events like this that you can attend and attend seminars and be able to get that ongoing education at no cost.
Speaker 2:You see, when you attend a show that's a private show whether it's owned by a media company or a private individual or part of the media you will see a show where they will charge for seminars. There's a price behind everything. With the associations you're not dealing with that and every dollar you put into an association you can look back and see. I know that in our state you can see the work they're doing with the lobbyists, the work they're doing with the governor, what they're doing to try and increase safety and push legislation forward in the market. So when you go to a show, it means a lot and it means that that association can continue on another year, taking care of training, safety, education and fighting to make sure the men and women of Tolland get back home safely every day. So that's the big difference, think, between private and a association.
Speaker 1:Right, and I think that when you do a state association like the Carolinas, like Ohio, I'm going to tell you they even have on Friday night, after the injured drivers fund auction, they have a poker tournament where you could play poker and 50% goes to the injured driver fund, 50% and the top three poker players are actually awarded money that night. So it's really a super night of entertainment, a lot of fun. But there's so many things I want to just like when you were talking about the Carolinas, I want everyone to go to MidwestToeShoworg for more information. Bruce Bender is the executive director there, his personal hotline and this is for you on this podcast 513-791-7555. Tell Bruce.
Speaker 1:Dj Harrington and Darren Weaver told him to call and I want you to make room reservations and if you're an exhibitor, you make sure you're there, because on Friday and Saturday the show opens at 11 o'clock, closes at 5. And that gives you plenty of time and, just like Darren says, there is so many good people that come by and you can sit and visit with towers from from across the country. All right, folks, now that you've got my opinion of all the good stuff that happened at the midwest show and you got bruce's phone number, let's take a fast break and we'll come back for our final segment of this great podcast. Hold tight, hold tight.
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Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. This is the number one podcast Toe Professional on the Go podcast and I can't thank you enough. I want to thank each and every one of you and remind you to like, review and share with all your fellow people, share with your neighbors. I talked to a guy from Tunnel to Towers this morning and he said to me what podcast should I be listening to? Tunnel to Towers this morning and he said to me what podcast should I be listening to? I said Toe Professional. Here's how you get it. And right away he takes out his phone, darren, and bingo, he goes. Oh there, it is right there. And it's that simple. Folks Just go to Podcasts, hit in Toe Professional Podcasts and it comes right up and you see the logo. So I can't thank you enough. Please remember to like and review.
Speaker 1:And if you want to be on the podcast and you have a state association that wants to give some information about your upcoming show or something that's going on in your association that you want to share, our hotline at the podcast center is 706-409-5603. So, darren, let's talk about what's new in the latest issue of Toad Professional. Now, it's the number one magazine, I know that. But what's new? Exciting products are being launched and was launched at the Florida Toad Show by our friends from Zips and for the tow professionals, this is a fantastic product to protect your business when dealing with EVs.
Speaker 2:Ben, I tell you, DJ, I was blown away when Zips had an inside booth at Florida and they had an outside booth and their outside booth was centered around what could impact your EV response business. And one of those key things is the byproduct of these vehicles. When they get in an accident it's hard for the firefighters to tell if the batteries have been damaged at times. Sometimes in an accident your tow professional picks up the car, takes it back to the lot and then what happens? Well, sometimes these things start leaching off gases. You know they can go into a thermal runaway. Those lithium batteries can burn anywhere from four to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit and a typical gasoline engine vehicle only burns around 1500. So, as you can imagine, at those at that type of heat, you're risking everything that's around those vehicles when you tow a EV vehicle. Well, zips debuted a brand new product called the Firebox and this Firebox does a couple more things than a standard barrier would do. I know a lot of folks are doing the standard built-up barriers and they'll set a car in there. Well, that will save some of that, will protect some of the vehicles from fire, but then you have hazardous chemicals leaching down into the ground and you have chemicals going up into the air and polluting the environment. Well, with this new product that Zips has launched the Firebox. It's 120 inches wide, 288 inches long and it's filled with water throughout an internal supply valve and it has a treated wood floor. It protects against caustic chemicals and the top can be secured with a metal mesh enclosure and locked to preserve any evidence in there. And it also has a separate sprinkler system that can be installed to help regulate heat from outside sources. So I mean this is a game changer. But you're like, well, is that expensive? What does that mean to my tow yard? But you know, speaking with David Rothengos from Zips, we were talking about this. This is also a product that you can use to generate a revenue stream. This is something you can lease to other lots for them to bring in and store their cars in when they're bringing EV vehicles in and charge a fee for that. So that's a product that just really caught my attention at the Florida show and we detailed it in here.
Speaker 2:And then another product that got my attention, dj, that we cover in here is the EV Road Hero, and this is a fantastic product. It's when you're dealing with EVs and you're needing to go out there service them, charge them for a customer. This is a portable chargerts peak surge power of 11 kilowatts, large gas tank of 6.1 gallons with a carbon monoxide auto shutoff. It's a super clean product and it's extremely quiet, at only 64 decibels from 23 feet, and it's very manageable. It's a portable weight of just over 200 pounds and rollable, so it's equipped with wheels, a foldable pull handle so it's real easy to transport and this gives the tow professionals that are out there going out and doing the business of charging these ADVs and providing that service, a cost-effective product that's portable, powerful, clean and very profitable. So that's another article that was featured in Tow Professional. It just really caught my attention and stood out to me.
Speaker 2:And then our next article came in from Clore and that article was on jump-starting plug-in hybrids and EVs.
Speaker 2:So within this one issue we bring you informative knowledge on bringing EV vehicles to your lot, how to protect yourself, liability, safety and from the hazardous chemicals leaking into the ground.
Speaker 2:With the other comment we have from EV Road Hero, we show you a portable source that you can take out there to charge your customers' vehicles and charge a service for that that you can take out there to charge your customers' vehicles and charge a service for that. And then, with an article from Clore, inside the same issue, we have a feature on jump-starting plug-in hybrids and EVs and they show you what tools are best to carry in your truck to get the job done and to be most cost-effective option and something that will last you long-term cost-effective option and something that will last you long-term. So, yes, dj, with this issue, man, it turned out to be the EV issue of the year so far and there's some great informative information on it. So make sure, listeners, you go to towprofessionalcom, click on Digital Issues and it's Tow Professional Volume 14, issue 1. It's right there on the homepage in the corner.
Speaker 1:Fantastic and you think about it. These are things that could be a profit center just on themselves. Yes, they could make extra money by utilizing this. It's a good investment, all right.
Speaker 1:So before we end this whole thing, I want to tell you my two cents. I told Darren when we were getting on this listeners and said Darren says you know, every time you end the podcast, you always say that prayer. And so I wrote something out before I turn it over to Darren and I let him listen to it first. So I'm going to share it with you listeners. But this is what I was sharing with my daughter Don't try to build a life with no problems and no stress, but build yourself into a person who can handle stress and solve problems. And my daughter just looked at me. She goes Dad, that's a big difference. I said it sure is. So I just want to tell all our listeners I'm proud to be part of the podcast. I'm proud to be one of the writers for Toll Professional Magazine. We have a great group of people that write for the columns and I want you to go and tune in and get turned on, because it's a great magazine. Okay, darren, I'll turn it over to you, my friend yes, sir, well, one.
Speaker 2:One other thing I want to bring out is one thing we're doing in toe professional in this issue issue was a starting series on good neighbors or predatory tower. That was the start of our features on this and our features on Abingdon collision and towing. And they're out of Abingdon, Virginia. And let me tell you this, our whole purpose of this column, of these featured stories by Matthew Fuston, is to simply show that our towers in the industry are top professionals. Yes, there's some bad apples in any industry. Whether you're a dentist, whether you're a tower, whether you're a publicist, there's bad apples in every industry. But our purpose here with Tow Professional Magazine is to highlight those tow professionals in the industry, show what helped them grow their business and their heart and soul commitment to industry and what that means. And with that I'll wrap this up, as I always do.
Speaker 2:Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for every one of our vendors. I thank you for the loyalty to our publication. I thank you for them trusting us with the opportunity of their business and putting it out there to help them succeed. I ask that you bless them with more knowledge, grow their business and help them reach those customers to help them and, dear Heavenly Father, I do thank you for every one of our total professionals, for our men and women that go out there with a heart of service. Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless them, encourage them, continue to always give them hope, make them prosperous and just simply keep a hedge of protection around them and keep them safe as they come and go, taking care of the roadways. We ask this in your precious name, Father, and one thing I was led to tell you today, folks, is me and DJ.
Speaker 2:Both are Christians. We do believe in Christ 100% and in saying that, I can tell you this there's no way, no place you can go too far, that you can't receive the grace of God. All you have to do is ask for it and he'll bring you in comfort, you forgive you of your sins and bring you to his kingdom. There's no place you can go too far, nothing you can do too bad. We all can be forgiven under him. Thanks again, folks, for helping make Tell Professional one of the top shows in industry. We appreciate you listening. Until next time. God bless and be safe out there.