Latest / Towing News Now / A Conversation with Hal Watts: Fireman and Tow Truck Operator

Transcript

A Conversation with Hal Watts: Fireman and Tow Truck Operator · Towing News Now

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Remember this is your podcast to promote safety, education, positive public relations and networking within the professional and business-minded Towing and Recovery industry.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: I'm your co-host, dj Harrington, better known as the co-doctor, and I'm honored, as always, to have the other co-host, a 40-year Towing Industry veteran, the founder of American Towing Recovery Institute, the one and only Wes Wilburn Wes.
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: It's a beautiful day here, buddy.
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: I hope it's good there.
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: It is, dj.
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: It's a nice crisp, cool fall day.
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: The weather's starting to break.
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: We're out of the intense heat of southeastern North Carolina, the 90-plus degree days, which of course in the wintertime when you get the 70s it, makes it all worthwhile.
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: We had days and days of 90s and days.
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: I'm glad we have beautiful weather Just got back from Midwest Coastale.
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: Got to see you and Chuck and the whole team there I'm glad we're, here.
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: I'm glad we're here.
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: Yeah, our friend Brian Riker came by and Michelle Succo, and we had a lot of good people that came by to visit you and give all the good accolades to you, wes, which is very deserving.
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: Well, again, you're too kind, dj, you're too kind.
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: We did have a good show.
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: The Midwest Region Toe Show is alive as well.
• 1:53
  Speaker 3: The.
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: DJ.
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: You hear a lot of things and whatnot.
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: There was people talking about what kind of show they had.
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: There's a vendor.
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: I think it was very easy and good to show On sales at the booth.
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: We did very well.
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: Possible future sales like schools and stuff Excellent.
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: We had to spend some time talking to people instead of being the super busy, super rush.
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: Five people waiting in line to talk to you it's kind of an environment.
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: It wasn't that at all.
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: The best thing of all is we got to support a Toe Show that supports the telecommunity.
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: They raised, I believe, over $20,000 in their injured drivers fund, which they do for any injured operators in the state of Ohio.
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: They offered fundage to help solve that.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: You were the auction.
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: It was a great auction, wasn't it?
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: It was a great auction they raised.
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: Thanks to Bree.
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: They raised $5 shy of $22,000 the night of the auction.
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: Then the next day they raised another $2,000.
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: Say around $24,000 they raised and still counting.
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: There's still people that were matching when we did the vigil out in the hallway where you and Brian Raikou got together.
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: They raised another $1,300 just there of people bringing up $100 bills to put into the wounded driver fund, which goes right back to their association.
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: That's the reason why I agree with you, Wes Sponsor and support the ones that support our industry.
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: This money goes back into the state to help our industry, which is a whole lot different than other Toes shows.
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I wish I knew the gentleman.
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: I've gotten his name the gentleman that did the $100 account.
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: So that was awesome.
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: Immediately everybody stepped forward.
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: Like you said, $1,200 was raised and money all going to good cause.
• 4:08
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: It was Kevin Fox that put $100 out of my wallet and I was one of the people that put the $100 in.
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: God bless you, God bless you yeah.
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: We saw a friend, kevin Fox, there.
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: He was there supporting the show at the auction and, of course, representing the Toe Museum.
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: That's a whole lot, because he left right out there with David and they went back to work the show in Tennessee this week.
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: There's a person that's an unsung hero People don't pay a lot of attention to.
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: I mean I should say like that but the guy does a lot of work is what I'm trying to say I agree with you, wes.
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: Kevin and I have been friends for a long time.
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: When he asked for my wallet, I thought he wanted me to loan him $100, instead, he took $100 out of my wallet and said this is from DJ.
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: Good job, kevin, I know.
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: A typical Kevin.
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: Yeah, but the night before he bought his own jacket back for $650.
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: Right.
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: A jacket gave me 14 years ago.
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: He paid $140 for it.
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: Gave it to me as a gift.
• 5:25
  Speaker 1: I asked Kevin if it was okay if I could donate it back and then he paid $650 for his own jacket back so he could give to the wounded driver fund up there in Ohio and I think it's wonderful.
• 5:40
  Speaker 3: He's very generous.
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: His whole family is very generous.
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the family that understands what something like this is all about.
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, I agree.
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: What did you think of the Roberts Center?
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: I thought the Robert Schenner was excellent.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: The food was excellent.
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: The lug nuts you know that's a potato was a fried potato with bacon and cream cheese and all they were to die for.
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: Ladies share them appetizer in the restaurant he's talking about.
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: I don't want people to take their lug nuts and then, calling those the looney bins, to come get your D, get hey West.
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: The food was excellent and I wish guys got to be able to take it part of an adult beverage.
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: It was excellent and it was good, and I, as the old man, did the women's luncheon with the safety gear and it was outrageous there were all those ladies whistling at me but it was a fun time and the proceeds went to a good cost.
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: So I'm going to tell everybody I am promoting the band Three.
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: Cord Chaos played Saturday night and I could not believe how many people were there that actually, you know, wanted to do karaoke after Three Cord was done.
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: It was a wonderful time out in the Fargo because the weather was beautiful and all the lights on it, all the trucks in the parking lot it was really something Very moving.
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that light show was pretty spectacular.
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: We just saw it as we were leaving.
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: We stayed here at Three Cord Chaos Excellent job, chuck, our producer, part of that band.
• 7:35
  Speaker 1: We stayed for that and we went on back.
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: So, yeah, excellent, excellent show.
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: And you know the pop.
• 7:43
  Speaker 1: It's not the Great Wolf Lodge.
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: We've heard everybody's displeasure.
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: I've heard several people's displeasure that it's not the Great Wolf Lodge.
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: But everybody's got to understand the price change of what they wanted to charge us to be there just for the hotel room.
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: That would have everybody upset as well.
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: And the tone association didn't change Corporate decisions.
• 8:07
  Speaker 1: Great Wolf Lodge across the country changed their mindset and instead of selling all the rooms to us, it's discounted.
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: When I say us the tone association in this hotel, I'm not officially a part of it by any stretch, although I do support it.
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: But anyways, the price difference and what they were going to charge for the hotel room would have had everybody upset or not come in.
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: So and you know one more thing, dj that indoor area that they have only a little bit of it was utilized this year.
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: A lot of the vendors are outside, etc.
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: But let it come around a year that is going to end up being a rainy weekend, which happens when you do events this time of year.
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: That is going to be the smartest decision ever when they can move everybody inside that building.
• 9:00
  Speaker 3: You know all the outside buildings.
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: Yeah, you see what I'm saying.
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: Yes, and also, when you told me about, we had big D manufacturing and his motorhome was gorgeous.
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: He was out in the campground with 36 other motor homes out on the campground and campsites I should say 36 campsites.
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: There was a lot of people and a lot of people in Towing.
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: They go camping and this is the only show in the country that has the camping facility tied in with the Towing show.
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: So it's another place.
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: Yeah, lee Robert Tate, kentucky, told me he had brought his motorhome up there and enjoyed camping there, the show and whatnot as well.
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: So yeah, that's a great, that camp is a great thing.
• 9:49
  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, and from the campground it is a two-iron shot right over to McDonald's or to Wendy's.
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: And it was excellent.
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: I mean it was very, very nice.
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: Absolutely it was.
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: So we've got a great guest lined up today.
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: Probably a whole lot of our listeners know from his YouTube channel.
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: Can't wait to get to him.
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: But before we do that I want to tell folks where I'm going to be coming up here In a couple weeks.
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: We're going to be I put over 28 and 29th.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: We'll be in Rochester, minnesota, michigan, which is a suburb of Detroit, during a light and medium duty class.
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: We got some real because we're going to be in Detroit.
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: They're working on getting us some different vehicles to look at electric vehicles etc.
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: We're hosted by the Michigan Toeing Association Buyers towing.
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: Bill Byers has helped put the whole thing together.
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: He's our local host.
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: It's a great situation.
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: Bill always does a good job hosting these schools, like I say, working on a bunch of different details, trying to get us some extra stuff to look at, etc.
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: November 3rd we'll be in Lexiow, kansas, which is a suburb of Kansas City.
• 11:08
  Speaker 1: Brian Riker, mydotguycom, is going to be there helping me with this class.
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: We're looking forward to working together on a few training sessions etc.
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: So November 3rd we'll be there for one day, light duty, which is a Friday.
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: On the 4th and 5th Saturday, sunday we're there for our two-day heavy duty towing recovery with rotator class.
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: That's our most popular class right now.
• 11:36
  Speaker 1: Santa Fe Toe is the host.
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: They've always done an excellent job.
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: And then In November we have a very special training session coming up.
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: Myself and Ron Moore Ron, many people know, wrote the University of Restitution for Firehouse Magazine for 28 years in a row.
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: He's never missed an issue in Firehouse Magazine Never.
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: Ron and myself will be in Washington, north Carolina, november 11th, 12th for a two-day fire tower cross training.
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: The Institute's been donated a RECTSA Model Y paddock tolling in theapolis.
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: It's donated to the Institute and they're going to get it delivered to North Carolina for me.
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: We're going to use it.
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: Me and Ron are going to make it into the static display, cut the car open, et cetera, so to make it a tool for training towers and firefighters about how to handle some of these electric vehicles.
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: If anybody ends up with an electric vehicle that you can't get rid of and someone's going to charge you money to dispose of it, you should really consider donating it to some kind of education.
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: I know we would love to have a couple of them stage around the country, and I'm not a tax person, but talk your talent and you probably donate to us and be one of the best they get a tax deduction off their taxes by donating it to this cost.
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: So the fire department will actually write out a letter for you and we used it down at Alligator Coming for Mrs Roch's.
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: She donates to the fire department vehicles that they can use for training, just like you're asking for.
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: So it's a tax induction.
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: And these fire departments all over the country are very, very interested and need help to make this training happen.
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: So this is just a good thing all the way around.
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: So we're excited that Paddocks has stepped up.
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: Jeff Ripley has been a friend where I was with Rackbanger years ago, decades ago.
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: Jeff made a deal with me and with some tankers and got them in Barnum, north Carolina.
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: Just a great, great company that's Paddock's Record Service, westfield, indiana.
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: Great people can know we just did a private classroom a couple of weeks ago but anyway, we got a great guest today.
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: I want everybody to stick around right after the break.
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: We're going to have how, what With some of the records.
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: So YouTube sensation good guy and friend of mine me and April personally and definitely a friend of the American Tell and Recovery Institute.
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: Listeners, thanks for listening.
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: We'll just hang around after the break.
• 14:37
  Speaker 3: The folks at Purpose Record are record specialists.
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: They don't get bogged down with other types of sales like cars, assorted equipment or snow plows.
• 14:45
  Speaker 3: Purpose Record exclusively specializes in towing and hauling From parts in service to financing.
• 14:52
  Speaker 3: They remain focused on providing the best service and customer care to the towing and hauling industry.
• 14:58
  Speaker 3: Even in these trying times, purpose Record works hard to meet the needs of its customers.
• 15:03
  Speaker 3: They are the preferred distributor in North America for purchasing towing and recovery equipment.
• 15:08
  Speaker 3: For more information, visit them on the web at PurposeRecordcom, or speak to a specialist by calling 636-639-9700.
• 15:18
  Speaker 3: That's 636-639-9700.
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: Celebrating 40 years in the towing industry, that's PurposeRecordcom.
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: Welcome back listeners.
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: You're listening to the American Tell and Recovery Institute podcast with Wes Wilburn and DJ Harrington.
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: Every week, we do our best to bring you new informative episodes like this one.
• 15:41
  Speaker 2: Make sure you download and listen.
• 15:43
  Speaker 2: We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, google Play, stitcher, iheart Media, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: Without further ado, let me turn you over to the man of the hour, wes Wilburn.
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: Wes, go for it.
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: Thank you, dj.
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: As always, your two kind Appreciate all the listeners can't.
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: Thank you all for sharing, like and reviewing.
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: We appreciate the doing that and it has helped us grow tremendously and we're very, very thankful for that.
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: Our guest today is someone that understands the whole asking for shares and likes and reviews.
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: He's a YouTube sensation.
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: I believe is a technically correct name, dj, what you call him, but probably a lot of my listeners probably already know the name.
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: He has way more views, way more subscribers on his YouTube channel than we have on the podcast.
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: How watch with Sumner Records here with us from Sumner, south Carolina, friend of the Institute, a loyal member, supports us in training.
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: Very kind to us on YouTube.
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: I've heard many, many times the shout outs you give us how.
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: So how introduced?
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: Welcome to the podcast and do me a favor introduce yourself to the listeners please.
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: Thank you, mr Wiff.
• 17:16
  Speaker 1: For the few that probably don't know, go ahead.
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: Okay, my name is how what?
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: So I'm the owner and operator at Sumner Records service.
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: I've been in the towing industry for about 20 years now.
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: I came from a farming family before I got into towing, so you know I've grew up working machinery and all.
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: I'm also a full-time fireman, been a fireman for 35 years now.
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: I hold the rank of division chief at the bumper fire department, but just thank y'all for having me on the show.
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: Well, you're welcome.
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: I appreciate you being here.
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: So basically you have a full-time fire career 35 years in.
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: Wow, that's outstanding.
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: Thank you for service to community.
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: And you're also full running a full-time telling business.
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: That's quite a lot to take on.
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit about how you manage both careers.
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: Well, first, I've always managed because I've had good help throughout the years.
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: Some are no longer with me, but I've always seemed to find good help.
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: Even in the market that's out there right now with good help's hard to find, but I've always seemed to find good employees.
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: That's loyal to the company, but without my wife and daughter they run pretty much run the business when I'm not here, and also my lead driver, mr Wilbur Perry.
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: He keeps the guys going and he's always the one I lean on to make sure everything's handled when I'm not in.
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: Well, that's awesome that you have a good crew that you can count on and good employees that you recognize.
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: Dj, that's a.
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: Isn't that a ton of special business?
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: Some of the surrounds themselves with good people.
• 19:20
  Speaker 2: Yes, it's called being present when you're not present, and Hal is an expert at that because his influence on that company is there even when he's not there.
• 19:31
  Speaker 2: When he's at the firehouse or he's doing the YouTube stuff, you know his presence is present when you're not present.
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: Yeah, and probably part of the firehouse side of things too, I would guess.
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit about some some.
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: The record tells me.
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: What about some of this?
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: Out Carolina, just a post, an idea of how big something is, which I don't even have a good idea.
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: I've written by with the highway sign.
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: There's this way to something off interstate.
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: But that's all I know about and and know you down there.
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: Yeah, something's a fair size town.
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: We're about the only record company in something that does heavy-duty towing.
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: But we're surrounded, all counties around us do heavy-duty towing.
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: There's probably roughly, if I had to guess, 40 to 50 small towing companies in and around something.
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: Oh, there's a bunch of little tow trucks, you know, running around, but far as the heavy-duty side, we're pretty much to go to in something county which we go, we go all over.
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: That's a lot of telling companies for a relatively rural area.
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, what yet?
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: Agriculture?
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: The big industry in Sumner or what else is.
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: As you see on some of our videos, we do a lot of farming equipment, you know, winching out of tractors and combines and stuff like that.
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: But we do have some industry we.
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: We have a big tire plant here and Chicken plant.
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: So we do have a good bit of industry in something also, and I think some for steady, steady growing we do have, shall we're, for space here in town which, uh, you know that's probably the backbone of Sumter With all the residents that has an employees out at shelf.
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: So they're, they're a big asset to something.
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I live in federal North Carolina and the Army base is a big economic engine as well and I'll Big heartbeat of the town.
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: So you have become, I guess, youtube sensation is the right terminology.
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: Well, I don't know if I would call it a YouTube sensation.
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: I'm, I'm always the one behind the camera, if you really know me, I'm not one likes to be in public, but you know I'm the type person just getting get my hands dirty and get the job done.
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: But how the YouTube channel got started was, um, I've always watched YouTube Toeing shows as as a supplemental to training that I get from you over to American towing and recovery.
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: But, um, you know was watching the videos and my daughter said, well, dad, why don't you just start your own channel?
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: I said, well, you know, I don't know where to start she's.
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: She said, well, I'll edit the videos if you wear the camera.
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: I said, well, that works for me.
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: So I started wearing a camera and you know she started to edit and then put them up and it really surprised me that the channel took off like it did and and is doing as well as it is.
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: You know, I'd love to have a videographer and people come out and just videos.
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: So I didn't have to worry about that because Me and mr Wilbert we're a hands-on guy.
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: We go in, try to get the job done and then, you know, get out of there, but the footage sometimes is a little rough or but other than that, that's where the channel that right now we're 347 videos and about 6.8 million views is a good ballpark right now.
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: Well, yeah, that's that's incredible numbers.
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: And people have been telling me for a while you included that I should do a youtube channel myself.
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: Yes, I've been a little hesitant but, getting ready for the show, I watch several of your episodes and I definitely like style of how you shoot it and I have to say I'm probably gonna copy that style because I don't want.
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: One of the reasons that I've been hesitant with any of that is I don't feel, with training, that it should be a big production about me it should be about the students.
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: I've always felt that way.
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, I've enjoyed taking your classes, thank you, and I enjoy the style, that, what you're doing, and I really think I'm gonna copy it.
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: We, actually I, we bought a body camera over a year ago to start shooting some footage and I've got to taking the thing but I've never wanted.
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: But I'm gonna start wearing it, but I'm gonna start wearing it.
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: I have to believe, uh, I'm going to class, you know, we can have that.
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: I'm gonna wear it on and start shooting some footage and do it from that perspective, like you're doing it, because I can say the thing that's kept me from doing it is I don't want to be the star of the show.
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: It isn't about me, it's about the information, it's about Sharing the information with the students and I really like your style of how you, how you do that.
• 24:52
  Speaker 3: I appreciate that?
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: How many uh views Did you say you?
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: We're about 6.8 million views right now.
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: Um, with 25,000, and some change.
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: Subscribers Loyal, loyal subscribers, should I say I?
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: I do have a loyal bunch of subscribers that you know.
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: Every video I post, they always comment and they seem to watch everyone I pull up and we really appreciate them, because without them that there would be no youtube channel.
• 25:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah, let's try.
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: Just like the listeners here, absolutely.
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: Um, well, looks like we need to take a quick break.
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: Can you hang around after the break?
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: Want to talk some more about what you're doing down there?
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir.
• 25:42
  Speaker 3: The best towing companies offer a combination of great training, efficient operations, along with quality supplies.
• 25:48
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• 26:27
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• 26:41
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• 26:51
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• 26:54
  Speaker 3: Information in this podcast is made possible by generous sponsorship from henry's record, serving the community with quality towing and recovery for over 40 years, and re's record dot com.
• 27:05
  Speaker 2: You have been listening to the american towing recovery institute podcast west wilburn, dj harrington and our special guest, howl watts, who's been a great guest on this episode.
• 27:16
  Speaker 2: Remember to like, review and share as we learn from howl.
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: He has 25 000 subscribers.
• 27:23
  Speaker 2: God bless him.
• 27:24
  Speaker 2: If you'd like to hear another industry expert like a howl watts, just dial 7064095603.
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: That comes directly to the podcast center and let west wilburn know this is an industry expert You'd like to hear on the podcast.
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: Now, howl, if I could ask the question out of all of these, you know you got 347 videos out there.
• 27:51
  Speaker 2: You got 6.8 million views, 25 000 subscribers.
• 27:57
  Speaker 2: Do you ever have to get a release from some of these people Prior to doing the video?
• 28:04
  Speaker 2: That wasn't my question I was thinking about.
• 28:06
  Speaker 2: Could you share with our listeners that answer?
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, sometimes, if they're well all the time, if there's a fatality, I will not post a video, and if there is serious injury or something along those lines, I do ask the customer if I can.
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: And if it's a customer of ours, you know, I asked them if I can post the video and usually I'm told okay.
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: I've only been told no a couple of times, but that's.
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: That's the way I handle our YouTube channel.
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: You're very successful.
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: Very, very successful.
• 28:42
  Speaker 2: I am so glad that West Wilburne got you on the podcast it's.
• 28:46
  Speaker 2: This is really good.
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that sounds like an intelligent approach.
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: You know, to make sure everybody's okay with it and whatnot.
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: The first one you did.
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: What was your thought process compared to now when you do them?
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: My my first video was the fork truck that that we lifted on and, I'm not gonna lie, I was real nervous because I was worried about being judged by all the tow truck drivers out, you know, across across the United States and the world.
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: I just got out and hooked up.
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: I did not explain myself and One of my first, of the guy that actually commented on my first video, mr John smart.
• 29:35
  Speaker 1: He said please tell us what you're doing.
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: And you know that's my.
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: I still have issues Walking people through what I'm doing as I, as I hooked up now, but I'm trying to get better at that part of it.
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: The video was was scary for me.
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: Oh, I can imagine.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: I can only imagine I.
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: And the thing about being judged I totally connect with that too.
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: I've experienced it many, many times.
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: We showing operators are Great individuals who get out there and get it done.
• 30:12
  Speaker 1: American society would stop moving with them.
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: But sometimes they're very Tancrous, judgmental, overbearing.
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: It can be a challenge to communicate with sometimes and I say that as one and with love to all, but it's a truth.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: So I totally appreciate your comments.
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: Talking through what you're doing Also, you're doing.
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: You're out there doing it.
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: It's not like what I do in a parking lot of training session, so I have total respect.
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: That's very challenging as well.
• 30:49
  Speaker 1: One of the things that may be able to help with that.
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: As you know, my wife has talked to you already and said that I need to come down and do some training with your, your folks and Record.
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: That is kind of my introduction, as we get our you YouTube channel going, so I want to officially offer that I'll probably be several months.
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: We get through the busy fall season, but If the office still open, what you, you made before, yes sir I still is anytime, just let me know and we'll get it lined up and you know as we get close to the holidays, everything slows down for everybody, so I think that's when we'll get it lined up.
• 31:31
  Speaker 1: Okay, and I the maybe why?
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: I'm there, we can take one of your Videos that you do and I can help you with some voiceover and give you a little bit of idea there.
• 31:43
  Speaker 1: I think I could add a little ice to things for you that way, so that would be awesome.
• 31:49
  Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah.
• 31:50
  Speaker 1: Well, it's awesome that you're so open with me about what you're doing with YouTube and the advice you already given me and you don't even know it yet.
• 31:59
  Speaker 1: But you know we're gonna be bugging you for a lot more advice because we are gonna get it going and we're gonna be excited to do it.
• 32:08
  Speaker 1: Were you surprised that how many people Watch and and I'm guessing More over you've had way more positive, negative, but I'm sure you've had some negative talk about those things a little bit.
• 32:22
  Speaker 1: Whatever you're comfortable with, are you shocked at how many people what subscribe and watch?
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: Yes sir, I'm very shocked.
• 32:31
  Speaker 1: I never would have thought I was a little something.
• 32:35
  Speaker 1: Record crew would withdraw 26, almost 26,000 subscribers and about three and a half years and and you know, big part of those subscribers did come from One channel, mr JC Smith.
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: He's kind of a fix it all guy.
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: He fell in love with our channel and gave us a shout out on YouTube and that Picked up a lot of our subscribers right there.
• 33:03
  Speaker 1: But they've been loyal also to me, the people that have negative comments.
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: Like Mr Ron Pratt says, who also has a YouTube channel, there's several ways to tend and you know, in some of your training classes you've got 10 drivers.
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: You probably get 10 different ways to roll something over, but or any of them wrong.
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: You know, probably not.
• 33:27
  Speaker 1: It's just a way that you see that works the best at the time of what equipment you got.
• 33:33
  Speaker 1: They all operate a belief system and that belief system is made up of nothing more than our life experiences, and we've all had different life experiences to get us to where we're at today.
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: So the whole 10 different people looking at things, 10 different ways of the very natural, healthy situation that helps us grow is individuals, that we keep our minds open when we're around people and interacting with people.
• 34:00
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, I agree, Ron my eyes.
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: I don't know him real well, but I hear he has, and I haven't watched any of his work, but I hear he has a very popular YouTube channel as well.
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, he's about probably half a million subscribers.
• 34:17
  Speaker 3: And that was really the first record channel.
• 34:18
  Speaker 1: I started watching and I've learned quite a few techniques from him.
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: You know, watching him on YouTube that's awesome.
• 34:29
  Speaker 1: Are there a lot of people who are a lot of?
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: I should know this.
• 34:33
  Speaker 1: I guess there's a lot of telling operators on YouTube with YouTube channels?
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, there's quite a few.
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: There's several heavy duty tow companies that I watch, of course.
• 34:48
  Speaker 1: Mr Ron Pratt and Pepe's towing out in California, ok, is another big one.
• 34:57
  Speaker 1: I watch Mr Josh over there and he a friend of the Institute, but I do not know that.
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: I'm not sure.
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: No no, he, I'm saying he is, don't know him real well, but he buys equipment from us.
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: Ok, he's mine, right, I think his father I met years ago at a training class in Los Angeles.
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: Yes, a friend of the Institute definitely started to interrupt, but yeah, that was a couple of the big companies that I watch.
• 35:30
  Speaker 1: What's been the most rewarding part of doing the YouTube channel?
• 35:36
  Speaker 1: The most rewarding would be, I'd say, just all the loyal subscribers that I have and their comments.
• 35:43
  Speaker 1: I've had tow truck operators, mr Carl, all the way from Ontario, canada, come by my office and stop just to speak.
• 35:53
  Speaker 1: You know we get, we get people from all over.
• 35:55
  Speaker 1: Just stop in the office and and say hello.
• 36:00
  Speaker 1: You know, passing through from other states and even even Canada, you know.
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: That really shocked me.
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: Yeah, how far are you off the ice money?
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: I 20, we're probably 30 miles.
• 36:16
  Speaker 1: I 95, probably about 15 to 20, is called in which direction you go.
• 36:21
  Speaker 1: But the two biggest interstates close to us.
• 36:25
  Speaker 1: I 95 runs through Suntory County.
• 36:27
  Speaker 1: I 20 is just a jay set to us, but we really do not have a whole lot of.
• 36:35
  Speaker 1: There's probably Twenty miles of interstate in Suntory County.
• 36:41
  Speaker 1: OK, that's the reason we you don't see us posting a lot of wrecks every day of you know big behalf of on interstate, because we just don't have a whole lot of interstate in Suntory County.
• 36:51
  Speaker 1: What's been the most challenging part about the YouTube channel?
• 36:57
  Speaker 1: The most challenging part I'd say would be editing, because you know, if you watch my videos I edit.
• 37:07
  Speaker 1: Some people don't have the best language and I edit all the cuss words out or all the other things.
• 37:17
  Speaker 1: So I don't have a lot of stuff or stuff that's not appropriate for kids to hear per se, I like our channel to be family oriented, you know so if your kids they're watching it, we do.
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: I don't want something that that Pass on a bad influence of something to record to someone.
• 37:39
  Speaker 1: Yeah, now, I agree with that.
• 37:42
  Speaker 1: We're blessed to have our producer, all that stuff.
• 37:45
  Speaker 1: We're the same way.
• 37:47
  Speaker 1: We want this to be a family oriented situation that anybody can listen to.
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: You know, it is one one big factor.
• 37:56
  Speaker 1: The other one be just keeping the subscribers interested.
• 38:02
  Speaker 1: I try to keep my videos Bouncing from different things, from a skid steer recovery to a rolled over truck, to a trailer lift to a winch out, just trying to keep it mixed up so they don't get bored seeing the same stuff you know, day in and day out.
• 38:19
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I can appreciate that, but you're a little bit limited to what happens when the phone rings aren't you?
• 38:26
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, how big an operation is from the record.
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: So the record we do about 650 to 700 calls a month.
• 38:37
  Speaker 1: Ok, we're 24, seven.
• 38:40
  Speaker 1: And how many pieces of equipment are you on?
• 38:42
  Speaker 1: I have 14 pieces of equipment.
• 38:46
  Speaker 1: Not everyone is on the road every day, you know it could be a land all.
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: Or you know the skid steer with the winch box on it.
• 38:56
  Speaker 1: Well, it's not a winch box, it's just a winch.
• 38:58
  Speaker 1: But or it could be a medium duty tow or rollbacks, you know, and we have five heavy records, with usually three of those on the road every day.
• 39:10
  Speaker 3: How many?
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: employees.
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: Nine employees and two part time Wow, you got a lot going on then, don't you?
• 39:21
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, and you're full time at the fire department and basically full time at something, something record.
• 39:29
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, I work a 48.
• 39:31
  Speaker 1: I work 48 hours straight at the fire department and off 96.
• 39:35
  Speaker 1: And pretty much those 96 at the shop or either on the phone at some point.
• 39:44
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a lot going on to be dealing with and, as you said in the beginning, it's very nice or I mean comment on what you said in the beginning it's very nice how you recognize your employees, past and present, have helped make this whole situation happen.
• 40:04
  Speaker 3: So yes, sir.
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: Well, without them, like I said earlier, there's something record wouldn't wouldn't be here, because they're the ones out there in the ditches and on the white line you know day in and day out and every, every, you know customer.
• 40:19
  Speaker 1: We have their place with our drivers and the way we handle each situation.
• 40:24
  Speaker 1: So I've been very fortunate there.
• 40:25
  Speaker 1: Yeah, in the same age as fast-flowing.
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: That's awesome that you recognize that.
• 40:32
  Speaker 1: What's in the future for some of the record?
• 40:35
  Speaker 1: Well, hopefully one day we will be able to get us a rotator, or probably after I leave the fire station once I retire.
• 40:46
  Speaker 1: That's something big we're looking forward to.
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: Right now all we use is I have two 50 ton stick boons and a 30.
• 40:54
  Speaker 1: Those are my three biggest, but we seem to manage with what we have.
• 40:58
  Speaker 1: Every now and then we have to call in a rotator to help us, but we just always manage with what we got.
• 41:07
  Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, that's how we do it before rotators go around.
• 41:13
  Speaker 1: So total appreciation of that.
• 41:17
  Speaker 3: Before we go.
• 41:18
  Speaker 1: I want to change gears with you and talk about one more subject.
• 41:21
  Speaker 1: A few years back you attended the fire tow across train with Ryan Moore and myself.
• 41:27
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, could you talk a little bit about that from the fire department's perspective and the company's perspective?
• 41:36
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, it was a very informative class, being from both sides, with the fire department and the record service.
• 41:44
  Speaker 1: I would love to see that class just be offered everywhere, because record drivers and fire departments sometimes need to work hand in hand on some of these wreck scenes because most fire departments don't have a 50 ton record or rotator at their disposal.
• 42:04
  Speaker 1: So you get these heavy duty equipment with someone trapped in it.
• 42:10
  Speaker 1: You're not going to stabilize it what you have on a heavy rescue truck.
• 42:14
  Speaker 1: So, like here in Sumter, all the guys here call me ASAP if they need a heavy duty record to stabilize something.
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: If there's no charge to the fire department, I go out and stabilize whatever they need me to or lift it.
• 42:32
  Speaker 1: Once we're done, trucks come back and there's no charge to the fire department or to the vehicle that we lifted.
• 42:42
  Speaker 1: Working with our guys, what we have a lot of the firemen have worked with me in the past, have actually ran my trucks and worked for me.
• 42:50
  Speaker 1: So here in Sumter we're blessed to have those guys and know how to actually even operate our trucks.
• 42:56
  Speaker 1: So even back to the cross training.
• 43:00
  Speaker 1: It's been a blessing to have that plan.
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: It's good to hear that you put that information to use.
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: I don't know if you've noticed, but we're trying to do more of those.
• 43:13
  Speaker 1: We're actually doing a couple of them this fall, one of them up in Elmira, new York, in September and one of them up in Washington, north Carolina, in November, early November.
• 43:25
  Speaker 1: So I'm going to get that information to you and maybe see if you can put it out on the YouTube channel for me.
• 43:32
  Speaker 1: I'd really appreciate it.
• 43:33
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, and I'm looking forward to coming to work with you and getting our YouTube channel going.
• 43:39
  Speaker 3: So first, of all, I want to thank you for being.
• 43:44
  Speaker 1: Let me know when we get everything lined up.
• 43:46
  Speaker 1: I definitely will April.
• 43:49
  Speaker 1: We'll take care of all the details way ahead of time.
• 43:51
  Speaker 1: You know how she is.
• 43:53
  Speaker 1: But I want to thank you for taking time for your busy schedule and being on the podcast stand talking about what you're doing there.
• 43:59
  Speaker 1: It's on the record and all my listeners.
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: If you're not watching how to subscribe to this channel and watching what's going on and how.
• 44:11
  Speaker 1: I appreciate you and be safe out there.
• 44:13
  Speaker 1: Thank you for being on the podcast, mr Lewis.
• 44:16
  Speaker 1: Thank you all for having me and you'll be safe as well.
• 44:18
  Speaker 1: Yes, sir, thank you.
• 44:20
  Speaker 1: I want to thank everybody for listening today.
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: Continue to like share review.
• 44:27
  Speaker 1: We appreciate it, appreciate the growth.
• 44:29
  Speaker 1: Everybody, be safe out there.
• 44:33
  Speaker 1: We'll talk to you soon.
• 44:34
  Speaker 1: Thank you for listening.
• 44:35
  Speaker 1: Bye.