Latest / Towing News Now / Midwest Tow Show Fun and Community Highlights

Transcript

Midwest Tow Show Fun and Community Highlights · 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 Tow Doctor, and my other host is Wes Wilburn, over 40-year towing industry veteran, the founder of American Towing Recovery Institute of Fayetteville, north Carolina.
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: He has produced and conducted training and certification programs for leading towing companies, equipment distributors, towing associations, dot, fire departments, rescue, as well as military installations across the United States.
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: Wes has been published over 100 times in major towing publications published over 100 times in major towing publications.
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: Wes has developed many courses, including the most recent awareness-level course for all responders that specialize in electric vehicles as well as hybrid, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles.
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: Wes has provided insight as the main speaker for over 30 years at more than 900 training classes and has been recognized as one of America's greatest towing trainers.
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: He is well known for his straightforward but down-to-earth teaching style.
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: No-transcript, without further ado.
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: Here's my dear friend and a great guy for our industry, wes Wilber.
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: Well, dj, as always, I appreciate your kind words and I appreciate your support in the podcast.
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: Boy time sure flies.
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: With the podcast.
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: It started back in February of 21 and we've done what?
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: Over 150 episodes now.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: Yeah, with over 15,000 listeners.
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: Yeah, we have to definitely thank all our listeners.
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: Subscribers are the ones that count, so if you're listening without subscribing, please give us that click and subscribe on all the major things.
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: Cj's already gone through all that with you.
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: Well, we got a great interview today.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: I can't wait to get to it.
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: Before we get to the interview, though, I'm getting geared up for school this fall.
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: We got a busy fall lined out for us.
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: Cj.
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: September 7th I'm going to be up in New England, rhode Island Towing Association, looking forward to it.
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: A light and medium duty class For registration.
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: It's independent of us.
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: Their handle on the promotion is the contact, adam Branch, 401-248-1600.
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: Let me repeat 401 248 1600.
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: Members get a special price.
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: See him if the sheets are available.
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: And, of course, dj, right after that Midwest show is coming up, the Roberts Center organization is going to be there with the booth.
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: I don't think I'll be there, but we're looking forward to that.
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: I'll have something to do with a later interview at the show as well, associated by CRAO and the associations from Indiana and Kentucky as well.
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: And then September 20th.
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: We're going to be at Beatline Telling, westford, virginia, on the 20th that's Friday evening Electric vehicle class, free of charge, three-hour class 6 to 9, come in at 5 for dinner and that's sponsored by Lynchburg Kubota, beatline Telling, and then on the 21st, 22nd, in Lynchburg Heavy Duty Telling and Recovery.
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: That class is basically half sold out at this point.
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: DJ oh wow, that's is basically half sold out at this point.
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: Dj, oh, wow, that's good numbers.
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, of course.
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: You've got the Tennessee Toe Show coming up September 25th, 28th, put on by Toe Time with the Tennessee Association, 407-936-2494.
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: And then we'll be with a class Lake Station, indiana, Waxo Towing founding members of the Institute October 18th for a free electric vehicle class.
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: 19th and 20th for the heavy duty tow and recovery, and a new date up on the board.
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: November 2nd and 3rd we'll be in Elkhart, indiana, for the time towing, wdtow and Recovery.
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: Got a new date up on the board.
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: November 2nd and 3rd We'll be in Elkhart, indiana, for the Tom's Towing by duty media class and we're ending up the year in Southerner South Carolina Fire and Tower Frost Training with me and Ron Moore November 16th and 17th.
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: For more information on these dates and other training opportunities, information on these dates and other training opportunities wwwamtowriorg.
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: Just call our hotline 910-747-9000.
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: Dj, I'm working out the details right now for some advanced level classes next year.
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: I'm hoping me and Tom Luciano get the opportunity to work together.
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, right now we're trying to put together the details of two sessions I mean him doing advanced level training together in the springtime and then possibly one, maybe two in the fall.
• 5:58
  Speaker 1: Hopefully by next week's podcast we'll have details we can officially announce on that.
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: But we're looking at something in the East Coast and something in the middle of the country.
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: The East Coast might be right there, next to one of the world's all-time famous vacation spots.
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: It's funny the day we were recording this on my Facebook feed today me and April on the Maid of the Mist with the rain suit on and soaking wet, where we just taking the boat right up to the falls and I mean, that is an exhilarating experience.
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: I don't even like stuff like that, and it was.
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: It was really a great experience seeing the falls up close.
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: We're working out the details.
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: We hope to be able to pull that together, but we'll let everybody know next week.
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: So, dj, that's what's going on with me.
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: We've got a great interview today.
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: Yeah, this is a great one.
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: A real family event, midwest Regional Show Show Put on by a real good organization, the Owner Recovery Association of Ohio.
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: Hang around after the break and we'll be right back.
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: The EV Clever app is an app created for all responders and emergency service personnel.
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: The EV Clever app is the only app containing easy-to-navigate quick links to access manufacturer-suggested instructions for emergency situations dealing with electric and alternative fuel vehicles while on the side of the road.
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: That includes hybrid, fully electric fuel cell, compressed natural gas and hydrogen buses and heavy trucks.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: These quick links are a convenient way to access information quickly.
• 7:41
  Speaker 3: To date, we have a total of 789 passenger vehicles, over 181 heavy-duty trucks, and adding more every day, thanks to our research team.
• 7:52
  Speaker 3: You can go to evclevercom and use the code podcast 2024, get a free 30-day trial and then after that you get 20% off.
• 8:02
  Speaker 4: Information in this podcast is made possible by generous sponsorship from Henry's Wrecker, serving the community with quality towing and recovery for over 40 years.
• 8:10
  Speaker 4: Henryswreckercom.
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: Welcome back listeners.
• 8:14
  Speaker 1: I know you're listening to American Towing and Recovery Institute podcast with Wes Wilburn, dj Harrington, we do our best to make sure you get the very best each and every week.
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: Please download and listen.
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia that's the number one Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts Now, with over 15,000 listeners, we cannot thank you enough, wes.
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: I'll turn it over to you to introduce our guest for this episode.
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: Thanks, dj.
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: I appreciate that.
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: As promised, we had a great interview today with one of the key players in our industry.
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: Makes a whole lot happen every year.
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: On behalf of the tellers in the Midwest, bruce Bender, with the Towing Recovery Association of Ohio.
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: Bruce, glad to have you back, anxious to hear what's going on this year.
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: But do us a favor for those listeners that haven't heard you in past episodes give us an introduction of yourself and your enrollment in the industry.
• 9:25
  Speaker 5: Absolutely, absolutely.
• 9:26
  Speaker 5: My name's Bruce Bender, for those that don't know me, and I'm the administrator for the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio and also the show coordinator for the Midwest Regional Tow Show, and we're getting ready to go into our 46th annual tow show.
• 9:41
  Speaker 5: We're really looking forward to seeing everybody.
• 9:45
  Speaker 5: It's a little earlier this year than we normally have it, but that's all right.
• 9:48
  Speaker 5: 46th annual tow show we're really looking forward to seeing everybody.
• 9:50
  Speaker 5: It's a little earlier this year than we normally have it, but that's all right, we're going to run with it.
• 9:54
  Speaker 1: We're going to have a great time.
• 9:54
  Speaker 1: 46 years, that's really impressive.
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: Bruce, a little bit more on your background.
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: How did you?
• 10:00
  Speaker 5: get involved in the industry if you don't mind industry if you don't mind.
• 10:08
  Speaker 5: Actually I, um, I had, uh, my background.
• 10:09
  Speaker 5: I originally was in retail management as a director of operations and did things like that, and then I married into the towing industry and that's where I started meeting people and actually getting to go out in a truck and went out with Harry Myers when he was still alive of Bob Myers Towing and I'd go out and run some poles with him and found out it's such a great industry and the thing that a lot of people just don't realize is how much these towers give up of their lives to service the general public.
• 10:46
  Speaker 5: And so when the opportunity arose for me to be able to join in with the association and start helping and fighting for these guys, I was glad to jump on board.
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: I think it's a great story.
• 11:04
  Speaker 1: Sonya was getting involved with the industry in different ways.
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: Bob Myers I've met once or twice over the years at the shows, but when we moved the Towing Museum from the one location where it was downtown Chattanooga to where it's current location, I was one of the people that came and helped.
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: We moved his 1913 locomobile with the Homes 485.
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: Absolutely one of the nicest antique tow trucks I've ever been around.
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: Beautiful, beautiful piece.
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: Of course I met him once or twice.
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: I saw him at the shows in the 90s and super serious about the towing industry is what I remember about him.
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: So tell us a little bit about the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio, if you would.
• 11:58
  Speaker 5: Absolutely the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio, as with what any state association should be doing and focusing on.
• 12:07
  Speaker 5: We're here to focus on not only being here to answer when members call in about questions regarding laws or things like that, but we're also here to help fight for the betterment of the industry as a whole.
• 12:25
  Speaker 5: And when I say as a whole, yes, we may be focusing on a lot here in Ohio, but we also want to participate on things from a federal level or going to meetings or going to the state house here in Ohio.
• 12:46
  Speaker 5: But I also travel to DC and help whenever TRAA has an event going on there, such as TRAA Hill Days, and get a chance to talk with legislators or their aides and you know.
• 12:58
  Speaker 5: So that's all part.
• 13:00
  Speaker 5: And I always encourage people when they say you know?
• 13:04
  Speaker 5: And I always encourage people when they say, you know, why should I be a member of the association?
• 13:09
  Speaker 5: Or you know, I already get the benefits of it without having to pay.
• 13:14
  Speaker 5: Well, guess what?
• 13:17
  Speaker 5: If people are not members and the membership drops off because nobody wants to pay that little bit it costs to be a member, then we don't have the funds to go out and fight for them and then they're going to be wondering why they can't make any money in the industry when the government regulates every inch of their business because there's nobody to fight for them.
• 13:42
  Speaker 5: Inch of their business, because there's nobody to fight for them.
• 13:46
  Speaker 5: So you know, and that's, and that's one of the big benefits of being a member um is the fact that you have somebody here advocating and fighting for you.
• 13:51
  Speaker 5: Um, and then the other thing too.
• 13:53
  Speaker 5: It's like here in Ohio we have, uh, our association has even an injured drivers fund, um, where you know, one of the drivers, or you know, or owner operators, gets out there and they're on that side of the highway and something happens and they're out of work.
• 14:09
  Speaker 5: You know, we send a couple of checks out to help because we know their expenses keep going even though they can't work.
• 14:15
  Speaker 5: So you know, that's just a couple of the benefits, and then it just keeps going from there.
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: Absolutely the political thing, as anybody that's listened to any of the podcasts before know.
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: I feel strongly how important that is.
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: Also, your state association does do a wonderful job with your Inter-Drivers Fund auction at your show.
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: It's a great event.
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: People, if you haven't attended the auction, if you're at that show and you haven't attended their auction, you're missing one of the great events of the show.
• 14:52
  Speaker 1: What's been going on in Ohio politically?
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: Have y'all had to support any bills, oppose any bills?
• 15:02
  Speaker 5: Yeah, actually we just had a success that to some would seem a small success, but to us it's huge.
• 15:12
  Speaker 5: We just got a bill passed, Senate Bill 94 here in Ohio.
• 15:16
  Speaker 5: And listen, I'm not going to say we and say the TREO is taking all credit or anything like that, say the TREO is taking all credit or anything like that, because there is another association in Ohio, APTO, and we're both doing wonderful working together and fighting the fight together and the communication is really opening up where we didn't have that before and with the better communication I really feel like we're getting a lot more done.
• 15:44
  Speaker 5: But to go back to that Senate Bill 94, with that bill passed, it was a small change in language and, as we all know, one or two words can change a lot.
• 16:02
  Speaker 5: And for us, with Senate Bill 94, instead of an owner shall be responsible, now is responsible for their towing bills.
• 16:18
  Speaker 5: So the owner or lien holder is responsible.
• 16:30
  Speaker 5: So if something ends up going to court there isn't that shall anymore to where it can be changed around in it and it could be okay.
• 16:33
  Speaker 5: Well, they may not be responsible, Now it is responsible.
• 16:37
  Speaker 5: And then we're also working on a bill that has right now, currently has already passed the House.
• 16:48
  Speaker 5: We're waiting, trying to get it through the Senate before the session ends this year, and that's going to be a big thing for us because the trucking industry, the insurance industry and the towing industry have finally come to an agreement on a way to handle some of these really large bills so that they don't feel like their cargo is being held hostage, because we hear that so much.
• 17:14
  Speaker 5: And it's not that the towers want the stuff, they just want paid.
• 17:18
  Speaker 5: And so we're working on a bill that actually all three have agreed on that if this can get passed in the Senate, then if someone would hand over an outrageously high bill, then the owner can pay a reasonable amount of that bill.
• 17:45
  Speaker 5: If they're going to dispute it, they can pay a reasonable amount.
• 17:48
  Speaker 5: So let's say someone receives a $30,000 bill.
• 17:52
  Speaker 5: They feel like it's inflated way too high, but they want to pay that $15,000 up front and get a bond for the other $15, 15,.
• 18:03
  Speaker 5: Then they can take their cargo and their truck and everything, and then the court will decide whether they owe the other 15 or if a different amount is truly what they should receive.
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: Wow, that's going to be a step forward.
• 18:41
  Speaker 5: It sounds like to me, depending on how that's all applied, I'm sure there any we don't foresee anything, any problems with it because again the trucking industry, the insurance industry and the towing industry have all sat down together and came up with an agreement here that works for all three and everybody feels it's fair.
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: That's excellent.
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: That is achieving a lot.
• 19:07
  Speaker 5: Good to hear.
• 19:09
  Speaker 5: We're working on.
• 19:10
  Speaker 5: We're working on a PPI Issue here in the state when we were supposed to get Our review From PUCO and get a Get a raise and they sent out the wrong notifications so nobody was there um to give any insight on it and of course then they denied any raise and it's five years before we can get another review.
• 19:37
  Speaker 5: So we're not going to sit back and and take that sitting down.
• 19:41
  Speaker 5: So we've got a big battle going on right now and I believe we're somewhere up around $50,000 into this right now between the two associations and it's we're probably going to be spending at least that even more you know by the time this is all done, but you know that's.
• 19:59
  Speaker 5: That's what people don't realize is how much we are here to stand up for them and fight for them.
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: That money you're speaking of, that's legal fees or hobby.
• 20:09
  Speaker 5: Yes, that's legal fees.
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: Okay, well, good, and that's being offensive.
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: To fight the situation, yes, of having to wait for five years for another review.
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: That's positive.
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: That shows a clear plan of action, doesn't it, dj?
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: It sure does.
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: It sure does.
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: And this guy, you know, I got to tell all of our listeners.
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: We got to take a break in a minute, but I want, before we take our break, bruce, be kind enough to remind our listeners the dates of the Midwest Regional Toe Show.
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: It's at the Roberts Center and I want to tell our listeners it is a phenomenal place.
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: Last year, wes Wilburn and his wife April treated me to the most outrageous dinner right there at Roberts.
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: Wes, you remember how that guy carved the roast beef and threw it on our plates?
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: Oh yeah, and we had the rusty lugnuts for an appetizer.
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: Absolutely.
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: You got that right, Lugnuts for appetizer.
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: It was just a great place.
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: Remind our listeners before we take our break.
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: What's the dates of the show?
• 21:28
  Speaker 5: The dates this year are September 12th through the 15th, and I encourage everybody to write those dates down because, although the 13th and 14th are the actual dates that the exhibitors are open, the 12th is a very important date that I need everybody to write down, and I'm sure we'll get into that a little deeper when we come back from your break.
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: You got it All right, folks, let's take a break, and when we come back we'll know more about September 12th.
• 22:01
  Speaker 4: The best towing companies offer a combination of great training, efficient operations, along with quality supplies.
• 22:06
  Speaker 4: Towing Equipment Direct is committed to help your towing companies offer a combination of great training, efficient operations, along with quality supplies.
• 22:07
  Speaker 4: Towing Equipment Direct is committed to help your towing company stay ahead of the competition by providing the best quality of towing equipment and supplies.
• 22:15
  Speaker 4: Here's why you should choose Towing Equipment Direct for all of your towing supply needs.
• 22:20
  Speaker 4: We provide affordable towing supplies and equipment.
• 22:23
  Speaker 4: All towing supplies and equipment are made from the latest technology and we supply products from the most respected brands in the towing industry, offering the widest variety of towing supplies and equipment in New England.
• 22:36
  Speaker 4: If you're not using the latest towing equipment, there's a good chance your company has fallen behind.
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: Savvy consumers can quickly tell which towing companies provide the best service.
• 22:46
  Speaker 4: In many cases, the quality of your equipment and supplies can make a huge difference.
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: Our representatives are knowledgeable in the towing industry, so for the best towing equipment and supplies, count on the team at towing equipment direct.
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: Browse our catalog online at towing equipment directcom or give us a call at 910-747-9000.
• 23:07
  Speaker 4: That's 910-747-9000.
• 23:10
  Speaker 4: We look forward to serving you.
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: Welcome back listeners.
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: Of course you know American Towing Recovery Institute podcast with Wes Wilburn, dj Harrington and today's our special guest, bruce Bender.
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: Remember to like, review and share everywhere.
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: We cannot thank you enough.
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: We have a podcast hotline right here in the studio 706 409 5603, and if you want to hear an industry expert like a Bruce Bender, just call that number and Wes and I will do our very best to get that person on the next podcast.
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: So, wes, I'll turn it over to you so you can ask more questions of our dear friend Bruce.
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: Thank you, dj.
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: And just to echo on what DJ said, I definitely appreciate people that are doing things in the industry.
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: Appreciate people that are doing things in the industry, just like Bruce is here, taking time out of their day to come in and tell everybody what's going on.
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: As I see different people around the country, different events I know a lot of y'all are listening Different people that are involved with different associations, et cetera.
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: Don't hesitate to reach out to us.
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: We'd love to get your information out there to people.
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: So, bruce, we're back at the Robinson Center, which is part of the R&L Trucking.
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 24:39
  Speaker 1: Robinson Center.
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: Excuse me, you know I tell you this is an organization that receives trade from different trucking companies.
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: We deal with a trucking company probably once a week, once every other week, sometimes twice a week R&L.
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: Their people are just wonderful to deal with for whatever that's worth, and that's one of the things I like about the venue for the show owned by a trucking company.
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: They understand us and our needs as far as I'm concerned, but go ahead and talk about the show to us.
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: What's up, bruce?
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: If you would please.
• 25:15
  Speaker 5: Absolutely Before the break I had mentioned, I needed everybody to write down September 12th, and here's the reason September 12th, actually from 9 am to about 4 pm.
• 25:30
  Speaker 5: 4 to 5 pm is when the exhibitors come in and they do their setup, getting ready to service everybody.
• 25:32
  Speaker 5: But listen, I'm going to tell you something, guys.
• 25:35
  Speaker 5: We have some of the best exhibitors in the country.
• 25:38
  Speaker 5: I truly love the exhibitors.
• 25:40
  Speaker 5: We have come in, very respectful, they truly service this industry with everything that got in them and we've got great exhibitors.
• 25:51
  Speaker 5: And then that evening, on the 12th, at about 530 in the evening, we're going to do something I've wanted to do for years and I finally am putting it into play is we're going to have a celebration of life event there at the show.
• 26:06
  Speaker 5: Um, and what we're?
• 26:08
  Speaker 5: What we're going to do is we're going to celebrate the lives of all the towers that have gone on before us, um, whether in active duty or or just passed away in their own homes.
• 26:20
  Speaker 5: Um, we, I want to celebrate those lives because I realize how much that towers give up so much family time and everything to be there for everybody and we need to celebrate them.
• 26:34
  Speaker 5: So what we're going to do is I have ordered a bunch of magnets that are bumper sticker size, that have the slowdown, move over along the bottom.
• 26:41
  Speaker 5: The rest of the magnet is white and we'll have markers there you can write the name of the person you want remembered and we can stick it on.
• 26:51
  Speaker 5: You can stick it on your truck or somebody, or uh, and then we're going to have a parade, uh, to remember, uh, to celebrate those lives.
• 27:00
  Speaker 5: We're also and also to bring recognition to the move, slow down, move over.
• 27:04
  Speaker 5: And when we get back from the parade, I've got a guy doing an awesome hog roast there.
• 27:10
  Speaker 5: There's going to be pork and sides and everything.
• 27:13
  Speaker 5: A great big layout of food.
• 27:16
  Speaker 5: We are going to have some music over there, some cornhole things like that going on After dark.
• 27:24
  Speaker 5: We're going to send off into the night.
• 27:28
  Speaker 5: We're going to send off some of the biodegradable lanterns up into the sky.
• 27:32
  Speaker 5: Just, I think it's going to be a great time to remember those who gave so much.
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: Absolutely.
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: That sounds like a wonderful event, bruce, and that's going to be on Thursday, september the 12th.
• 27:46
  Speaker 5: Yes, absolutely Thursday September the 12th.
• 27:49
  Speaker 5: Yes, absolutely Thursday September the 12th, and I'm encouraging anybody and everybody that can attend to come out and attend and participate in the parade, participate in the events and everything, and there's no charge to come out and participate.
• 28:01
  Speaker 5: There's no charge to eat.
• 28:02
  Speaker 5: I want everybody to get together.
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: That's awesome, and you got a great sponsor for that, don't you?
• 28:11
  Speaker 5: Yes.
• 28:11
  Speaker 5: We have INA that Gay Rochester reached out and said I would be honored to sponsor this event, and so she's covering the cost of the event so that everybody else can enjoy it and honor these slides.
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: That's awesome.
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: That's a good sponsor and, on behalf of the industry, I know we all appreciate Dave stepping forward to take care of that.
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: Yes, so what else can you tell us about the shows this year, bruce?
• 28:46
  Speaker 5: all right, we um, on friday and saturday will be when the exhibitors will be um, opened up the.
• 28:52
  Speaker 5: I think on friday we've got uh exhibit hours are 10, 30 to 5, 30.
• 28:57
  Speaker 5: Uh, saturday, it's uh 10 to 6.
• 29:00
  Speaker 5: Uh, not only will the exhibitors be going at it, but, and, and taking care of everybody, we'll have different events going on, different seminars going on, and oh, and I forgot to tell you, on Thursday day, we'll have a training class also going on on Thursday that I think everybody will.
• 29:22
  Speaker 5: You know the hazmat class and everybody knows who I'm talking about when I say a hazmat class.
• 29:29
  Speaker 5: I mean, there's that one great instructor that takes care of everybody.
• 29:34
  Speaker 5: Let's see if you can guess who it is.
• 29:36
  Speaker 5: Which one of you is going to guess who's doing the hazmat class?
• 29:40
  Speaker 1: Oh, Perry Beatty there you go?
• 29:42
  Speaker 5: Yes, the one and only Perry Beatty.
• 29:45
  Speaker 5: Yes, he will be only Perry Vader.
• 29:46
  Speaker 5: Yes, he will be there doing the hazmat class on Thursday and everything.
• 29:50
  Speaker 5: So we'll have the details for that.
• 29:54
  Speaker 5: Yes, he's great, he's on a good school.
• 29:57
  Speaker 5: Yes, it's an all-day class, but it is well worth every minute and every penny of it because he does a very good job of that and is so willing to share his knowledge and his experience with everybody.
• 30:14
  Speaker 5: And then the women of the WTRO, the Women of the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio, will be doing their line and design on Friday night and then Saturday at around lunchtime they'll do their women's luncheon and I think it's a cowboy theme this year.
• 30:35
  Speaker 5: So they'll have the safety models coming out.
• 30:38
  Speaker 5: I think, dj, aren't you going to be a part of one of those models?
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: out there.
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: Oh please, I did it last year.
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: I just wanted you to tell the audience that you have a special guest speaking either Friday or Saturday by the name of DJ Herring, that's right, absolutely.
• 30:59
  Speaker 5: And if that doesn't bring him to the show, nothing for you, oh yeah, hey, bruce, tell him about the campground.
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: See, this is the most family-friendly event of the whole year, but the campground is phenomenal.
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: If you have an RV, bring it.
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: If you have a pup, tent, bring it.
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: Because this is BYOB, bring your own.
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: But it's right there on the campground, it's right in walking distance to everything.
• 31:31
  Speaker 5: Absolutely, absolutely.
• 31:33
  Speaker 5: I mean there's a little roadway between the campground and the convention center, which is owned by R&L, so they shut it down for us so that no cars are going through there.
• 31:42
  Speaker 5: So you're right there on site you can bring like, like DJ said, you can bring your campers out.
• 31:48
  Speaker 5: There's places that you can put your tents.
• 31:50
  Speaker 5: Uh, we have a company actually, not only do we have full hookup sites, but for the primitive people we have a company that's, uh, going to donate some, um, big generators to put out there so that they don't even have to be without electric for their campers if they're over in the primitive.
• 32:08
  Speaker 5: And I've got a room at a hotel that people can check out a key card and go take their showers if they need to and if they're in the primitive.
• 32:19
  Speaker 5: So we've got you covered on all that.
• 32:23
  Speaker 5: And we encourage people to bring their families out.
• 32:27
  Speaker 5: We want the entire family there.
• 32:30
  Speaker 5: We want you to bring your kids.
• 32:32
  Speaker 5: We always have events for the kids.
• 32:34
  Speaker 5: Also, we have Friday and Saturday night.
• 32:37
  Speaker 5: We have babysitting for them.
• 32:38
  Speaker 5: We're going to have a little competition out there for them.
• 32:42
  Speaker 5: This year we're going to change it up.
• 32:44
  Speaker 5: We always had the remote vehicles.
• 32:47
  Speaker 5: This year we're going to change it up and we're going to actually have a new surprise out there for the kids and teens to do out there Friday, and that'll be.
• 33:01
  Speaker 5: And then Friday and Saturday.
• 33:02
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'll tell you, dj, you guys brought up the injured drivers auction that one used to be on Thursday night.
• 33:11
  Speaker 5: We're moving it over to Friday night because we wanted more participation, because people said a lot of them couldn't get there because they couldn't get off on a Thursday.
• 33:20
  Speaker 5: Well, we listened.
• 33:21
  Speaker 5: So we're moving it to Friday night so that people can actually attend.
• 33:25
  Speaker 5: So we're moving it to Friday night so that people can actually attend.
• 33:27
  Speaker 5: And we've already got an outpouring of awesome things that will be auctioned off there.
• 33:33
  Speaker 5: I mean some really nice stuff that's going to be in there and be auctioned off.
• 33:38
  Speaker 5: So you know, and there's always food in there.
• 33:41
  Speaker 5: So, and I don't know, dj, if you made it in there last year, you can kind of tell them the food is awesome.
• 33:48
  Speaker 1: The food is awesome.
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: The auction was great but you know, wes sent me some artwork that I'm bringing with me for the Injured Driver Auction.
• 34:01
  Speaker 5: Oh, thank you.
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: For recovery, so I already have it here, that's awesome.
• 34:07
  Speaker 5: Thank you so very much, wes thank you you're welcome.
• 34:11
  Speaker 1: We found a World War II era advertisement for Goodyear Tire Company for heavy trucks that we framed and made it professionally, along with some original home stuff as well.
• 34:24
  Speaker 1: That is so awesome.
• 34:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah, we're actually working on that stuff this week around here.
• 34:30
  Speaker 5: That's great.
• 34:30
  Speaker 5: I truly appreciate you guys and everything both of you do for the industry.
• 34:34
  Speaker 5: I really do.
• 34:36
  Speaker 5: You guys are such good people Well this is a great show.
• 34:41
  Speaker 1: Bruce and Wes was the one who first made me go and all of a sudden you get involved with you guys and the campground is phenomenal.
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: They take karaoke real serious.
• 34:55
  Speaker 1: Yeah there was a real tailgating vibe going on over there.
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: It made me, in April, wish we still traveled in our camper.
• 35:06
  Speaker 1: Like I say, it was a real good vibe going on in that camper I don't know, you know.
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: And the cases of the show, conjunction of the show.
• 35:16
  Speaker 1: However you want to word it, it's right there.
• 35:19
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I heard them out there.
• 35:20
  Speaker 5: I had brought my camper last year and I heard them still out there playing cornhole at 3 o'clock in the morning.
• 35:26
  Speaker 5: They were having a mole out there.
• 35:26
  Speaker 5: Out there playing cornhole at 3 o'clock in the morning.
• 35:29
  Speaker 1: They were having a mull out there.
• 35:34
  Speaker 5: I heard the thud, thud, thud you know, hitting those boards, that's what it is B-Y-O-B.
• 35:40
  Speaker 5: That's right.
• 35:40
  Speaker 5: That's right.
• 35:41
  Speaker 5: I thought they were out there.
• 35:46
  Speaker 5: I think Sandy's Towing had their trailer out there.
• 35:47
  Speaker 5: I think they brought all the beer they did and Sandy's has always been really good about being supportive of the show and they know how to party out there, that's for sure.
• 35:59
  Speaker 1: People don't realize that support networking is happening as well and also blowing off some steam at the same time.
• 36:06
  Speaker 5: So there's nothing wrong with that.
• 36:08
  Speaker 5: Yep and listen.
• 36:09
  Speaker 5: Friday after the injured drivers auction, we have a couple different well three different directions people can go.
• 36:16
  Speaker 5: They can go over to the campground and hang out and do that, or we have Texas Hold'em going on there in the room where the auction was.
• 36:25
  Speaker 5: They'll just have Texas Hold'em going on and then outside we'll have karaoke going on Friday night right after that.
• 36:34
  Speaker 5: So there's three different directions.
• 36:37
  Speaker 5: People can go Saturday we'll have you know after the show is over, on Saturday we'll have what's called Ralph's Chaos Party.
• 36:49
  Speaker 5: We'll have a band out there from about six to nine and then some karaoke afterwards.
• 36:56
  Speaker 5: We have our light show on Saturday night where they light those trucks up and get judged and everything, and so I encourage everybody to hang out and have a great time.
• 37:05
  Speaker 5: That's what it's all about.
• 37:06
  Speaker 5: You come here, you have a good time, get to visit with people, find great products for your business, great exhibitors, to make sure that you get what you need.
• 37:18
  Speaker 5: And then Sunday morning, instead of having everybody have to hang out until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, this year we're going to have a breakfast buffet brought outside there so people can come out.
• 37:35
  Speaker 5: They can hang out Saturday night, get up Sunday morning, come out, have breakfast and we're going to do our awards at 10 am instead of noon and then we can wrap it up and everybody can still get back home and get rested up to get back to work on Monday.
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: Wow, that sounds like a great new schedule.
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: Yes, so give us the dates again and how people can get more information.
• 38:03
  Speaker 5: September 12th through the 15th.
• 38:06
  Speaker 5: The 12th will be the vendor setup and the home gross that evening and then show on Friday and Saturday with all the different events going on, and then Sunday will be breakfast and awards and then everybody will be able to head out.
• 38:21
  Speaker 5: So September 12th through the 15th they're at the convention center there at Roberts Convention Center.
• 38:30
  Speaker 5: They're at Wilmington, it's right off the highway, easy to get to.
• 38:34
  Speaker 5: Just really look forward to seeing everybody again.
• 38:38
  Speaker 5: I always enjoy it.
• 38:39
  Speaker 5: It wears me out by the end of the weekend, but gosh, what a better way to get worn out.
• 38:47
  Speaker 1: Absolutely.
• 38:47
  Speaker 1: Now.
• 38:48
  Speaker 1: That's about halfway between Cincinnati and.
• 38:51
  Speaker 5: Is it?
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: Dayton yes, yep, exit 50.
• 38:55
  Speaker 1: And that's interstate.
• 38:59
  Speaker 5: Off of 71.
• 39:00
  Speaker 5: Interstate 71, yes, Okay great.
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: Well, bruce, we're bringing a lot of stuff.
• 39:06
  Speaker 1: Bruce, what I wanted to ask.
• 39:08
  Speaker 1: We even got companies coming as far away as the UK.
• 39:13
  Speaker 1: Yeah, warrior Wench is going to be there.
• 39:16
  Speaker 1: There'll be a demonstration of their product.
• 39:21
  Speaker 1: What if one of our listeners wants to get more information?
• 39:25
  Speaker 1: What number can they call you at?
• 39:31
  Speaker 5: Because there's some people that still may want a booth, and you know what?
• 39:34
  Speaker 5: This place has the availability to grow and expand.
• 39:37
  Speaker 5: So if anybody's wanting a booth, all they have to do is reach out to me at 513-831-SHOW Again, that's 513-831-7469, and um, or they can email me if they, if they prefer email, and that's bruce b-r-u-c-e at t-r-a-o dot o-r-g, so it's b-r-u-c-E At T-R-A-O Dot Org.
• 40:11
  Speaker 1: You, you know, dj, one of the best things About this facility.
• 40:14
  Speaker 1: Yeah, lord forbid.
• 40:17
  Speaker 1: But you have that Super rainy weekend which, if you're gonna Plan events In the spring, in the fall, some years Are gonna be rainy, just a fact of life.
• 40:25
  Speaker 1: This show Gets that rainy event.
• 40:28
  Speaker 1: They've got enough room, they can get everything and everybody inside.
• 40:31
  Speaker 1: Yeah, because we're going to have the guy who's the publisher and president of Toad Professional Magazine, darren Weaver.
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: He's going to have this Bronco in there with a Warrior wench on the front of it.
• 40:45
  Speaker 1: There with a warrior wench on the front of it and Bruce has her right inside the building so that people could actually see the operation.
• 40:53
  Speaker 1: I mean, it's really going to be great.
• 40:55
  Speaker 1: Yeah, the beautiful thing about this facility is if it's nice weather everybody can be outside.
• 41:02
  Speaker 1: If it's rainy, everybody can be inside.
• 41:05
  Speaker 5: Yeah, it's perfect, and the food is phenomenal at a very reasonable price hey, listen, if they, if people come to the show and they're not looking to have to spend a lot on food for one, they, if they do go to the restaurant, it's not that it's not high on price, but keep in mind thursday nights you're going to have a hog roast.
• 41:29
  Speaker 5: Friday night, there's going to be food in there at the injured driver's auction.
• 41:34
  Speaker 5: Saturday night, when we have the band night and the karaoke, we have a taco bar outside there for everybody.
• 41:40
  Speaker 5: So on those three nights, that's food.
• 41:45
  Speaker 5: That's food that's been being supplied by the sponsors of the show, um, so realistically.
• 41:52
  Speaker 5: And then Sunday morning there's the breakfast bar.
• 41:55
  Speaker 5: So realistically, they could come there and not even spend money on food if they didn't want to, right.
• 42:03
  Speaker 1: That's the sign of a good show.
• 42:04
  Speaker 1: I don't sponsor the events.
• 42:06
  Speaker 5: That's right.
• 42:06
  Speaker 5: We have some great sponsors.
• 42:08
  Speaker 5: We really do.
• 42:13
  Speaker 1: Well, bruce, I can't thank you enough for taking time to tell everybody what's going on.
• 42:19
  Speaker 1: Dj, do you have any more questions?
• 42:23
  Speaker 1: No, my friend, this is one for the books, and you got to be there, folks in Ohio for the Midwest Regional Tow Show September 12th through the 15th, and be there for the celebration of life and bring the names, and there'll be stuff there so we can mark down the names of the people that we want to remember in our industry.
• 42:51
  Speaker 5: And also remember the proceeds off of this show actually go back into the industry.
• 42:57
  Speaker 5: As an association show, anything that we would net from the show is used to pay for lobbyists.
• 43:09
  Speaker 5: What we would net from the show is used to pay for lobbyists and attorney fees and, you know, training events, things like that.
• 43:14
  Speaker 5: So it actually goes back into the industry.
• 43:18
  Speaker 5: It's not just going into someone's pocket to buy them a bigger house Right, that's a great point.
• 43:24
  Speaker 1: We should have started with that point.
• 43:26
  Speaker 1: That is a great point, one of the many reasons we support the show wholeheartedly.
• 43:32
  Speaker 1: Exactly, listeners.
• 43:34
  Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.
• 43:36
  Speaker 1: Bruce, appreciate you being here.
• 43:37
  Speaker 1: Dj, as always, you got it.
• 43:40
  Speaker 1: Chuck, in-studio producer in April.
• 43:44
  Speaker 1: We do appreciate y'all as well.
• 43:45
  Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.
• 43:47
  Speaker 1: Don't forget to share, subscribe, hit that like button.
• 43:50
  Speaker 1: We appreciate you and be safe out there.