Latest / Towing News Now / Tow Operators In The Line Of Fire

Transcript

Tow Operators In The Line Of Fire · Towing News Now

• 0:05
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome on all to the Now podcast.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_03: A podcast dedicated to insightful interviews, news stories that affect the sewing industry, and a weekly spotlight on sewing supplies and equipment.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_03: We have two hosts.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_03: One of them has been in the business 40 years.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_03: The other his charming wife of many years, who also is the general manager of product supply.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_03: No other than West and April Wilburn.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_03: Wes and April, I turn it over to you.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_02: DJ, as always, thank you so much for that wonderful introduction.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_02: I am very glad to be uh here with you in the hot heat of North Carolina.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_02: I know it's warm where you're at too.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's warm here, April, but it's a nice day.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's a really a nice day here.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_03: I did my physical therapy this morning, and I'm gonna tell you it was a beautiful, and it's still a beautiful day, you know, blue skies and puppy clouds.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_03: So a lot of times, you know, we have to remember bring water with us, you know, when you're out there working, and that's important to stay hydrated.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_02: It is also important in days like this where it doesn't feel the temperature is so high, but it doesn't feel as hot, so we don't think as much about staying hydrated because it doesn't feel as hot.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_02: So it's probably as important or it's not more important on days like this where it's not the humidity is not so oppressive to keep that in mind.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_02: Just because you're not, you know, overheated doesn't mean you're not overheated.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I know that we got a news segment and we got a you know, a lot of interesting stuff coming up.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_03: But I want to ask people that are on the air, you know, we have over 22,000 listeners on a regular basis.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_03: And if they know some tower that is doing something really great, you know, graduation at the end of the year, do they do anything to remind kids that don't drink and drive?
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_03: And they do that outside the high school.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_03: We would like to know that kind of stuff.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_03: And if they're doing a toy drive or if they're doing a food drive in their place, by all means, if they're doing something for kids for tops, you know, at Christmas time.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_03: If they're doing stuff like that, we like to know because so often I'm I talked to one guy, April, and he was just commenting that it would be nice to know some of the good things that happen.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, and I feel terrible when there's a death.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_03: I feel terrible when somebody is hit on the side.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_03: So if we have a little bit of both, it would be nice.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_03: Do you agree with me?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_02: I 100% agree with you, and and and fortunately or unfortunately, but but it does need to be reported when it does happen.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_02: There's a mixture of dust in in this episode.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we're gonna start off with some of that unfortunate stuff, and um, I think it just needs to be talked about because these are vital people in in our country that are doing important jobs, whether we think of that or not.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_02: But they are opening up these roads, they are rescuing people from the the side of the road.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_02: And when something happens to them, at least somebody needs to monument that.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_02: They we we need to make a mention of that.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_02: So that's we we also try to do that too, but we also have to mention that at the end of the podcast as well, too.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, well, I'm gonna tell you, I love the one where they took the it was a moose that was in water, and they had if the moose was trying to get out of it.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it it was a thank God it was it's not a deep pond, but they got the moose out and it was a towing company that did all this work, and I commend these people because this is you know it would have been e it would have been easy to go buy that and just leave it, you know, because that is unfortunate with nature.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_02: I think I think that moose was stuck for like two days, and uh the the gentleman finally got it dug out, you know.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_03: Well, there's some very gifted towers.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_03: Uh April, and here's my other question that we don't bring up enough.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_03: It's a can I bring it up in the first segment, if I may.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_02: Let's hear it.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_03: Here's the question.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_03: It's a question for you.
• 4:44
  unknown: Okay.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_03: What kind of terms or whatever I want to say?
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_03: The gentleman asked me.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_03: Uh he's new in the business, he has credit cards.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, do you take Apple Pay?
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_02: I probably know.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_02: I probably should.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I am just getting in with that whole 21st century thing, and it's only 2026, so I've got a ways to go with it.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_02: I think Apple Pay, I do not, but probably need to get set up for it.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_02: That's a very good question, though.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_03: Well, you take these and MasterCard in American Express.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_02: I take all all of those.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_02: I also take cash as well, you too.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_02: I take I take paper and plastic.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just like the stores.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_02: But Apple Pay, I take Cash App, uh PayPal, obviously.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_02: It's been around for a long time.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, PayPal.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_03: That was the other one he asked me about, PayPal.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_02: Apple Pay is probably something I need to get in in with.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_02: I don't have that many people asking me about it though.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_03: So I don't I I have it on my phone, April.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_03: But I the only reason why I use it, I I have to charge 99 cents because I need more storage on my phone.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_03: Because of my grandchildren's pictures and when they play basketball, I do videos of them.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_03: But that was the person's question because they love the website and it was very expanible, you know, explains everything to them.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_03: And it was it was it was complimentary.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_03: And maybe we should, I I think in the future, uh, I'm gonna write down some of the people that have given such beautiful customer service comments about, you know, towing equipment direct.com, that it would be nice to once in a while put down somebody who sent in a a nice thing and says something nice about it.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_02: Uh well, and speaking of nice things that somebody said about us, um I'm gonna um this helps me talk about this one thing that Wes is gonna talk about at the end of the podcast.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_02: We Wes we've come up with this air fitting kit.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_02: I say we West.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_02: We we, and I always put my name in it too, but Wes came up with this airfitting kit, and it was a 10-piece and now it's an 11-piece because he's been consulting with numerous people on the different things to put in it and the most common things that these trucks need for their for their breaks.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: And one of the gentlemen that he's been talking to, his name is Mac Rader, he's in West Sutton, West Virginia.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_02: He's actually lived in the next county over where I used to live at, and that's a that's a story for a different day.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: So we sent him we sent a mile to a skip and he sent the most beautiful video of what each other's pieces do and how they're applicable.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: Now, if you want to watch that video, it's on Facebook, West Wilburn Facebook and Tonyquitman Direct.com's Facebook, but it's also on our TikTok page, which is Tony McQuin Direct TikTok page.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_02: And that that video is superb.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_02: He just said it's the biggest favor by making that for us.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: It's about eight minutes long.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_02: So that's what I'm saying.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so how do how do I as a uh you know, n not a big computer guy, how can I get on the TikTok page?
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_02: If you do you have TikTok, DJ?
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, go to your rank.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_02: But I could Yes, go to your ranch.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_02: Have them put that on your phone and then you could just start you know you phone a direct is our TikTok handle on TikTok.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_02: It's all one word.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um that'll pull it up and you'll see all the stuff that we that we've been doing.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_02: And most of the stuff is like educational stuff and product demonstrations and things like that.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_02: I added that video that um Mac Raider from Raiders Town in West Virginia did for us this morning.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_02: And it's already gotten like it's already gotten hundreds of views on it.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_02: So you can just go on there and look at it, or you can go on Facebook.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: You can what's we'll run's Facebook page or telling the climate direct.com's Facebook page and look at it.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_02: It's on all the different formats.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_03: Gotcha.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, I would like to look at it.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it it he did a very, very good job in it like you can ask for better than what he did on that.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_03: You got it.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_03: Well now see, now look how good we did the first segment.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, go, April.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_02: We are also going to we're also gonna talk about uh Perry Beatty because Perry Batty does this hazmat stuff.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_02: So let's just do that before we we did a good job, DJ.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_02: We're doing a good job.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_02: Hazmat Responder Network, which is Perry Beatty.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_02: He does uh cargo tank awareness and he does other different hazmat classes.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_02: And if you want to find out more about that, go to www.hazmatrn.com.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_02: If you're looking for training, uh American Tory Recovery Institute, which is in St.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_02: in the St.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_02: Louis area, 636-800-2874, and we're gonna talk about our 14K Rochester here in just one second, our KDJ.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_03: Well, Gay Rochester is a wonderful, wonderful person.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_03: And when you talk about INA, INA continually takes care of TRAA, uh, and all of us, you know, when you go to a um what I'm gonna say a show of nature, like the Ohio show, uh, INA is a sponsor of the whole thing.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_03: So if you think INA, think simplified solutions with superior service.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_03: And thank you very much for letting me do that little plug for Gail Rochester and the great company that INA.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: And then we're gonna plug the Ohio Toaster, also known as the Midwest Toaster, because nothing has grown and in substantial part due to INA.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, they they sponsor a bunch up there.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and it's and it's really, you know, they got it back at the Great Wolf Lodge now.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_03: It's back in the big family affair, and they got it is, you know, I think it's the most family-friendly show of the year.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_03: And it's it's what it's nice when the young person turns to, you know, a 14-year-old kid turns to their dad and says, you know, when I finish high school, and and in high school they're taking vocational ed and they want to get into this industry.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's a a it's a respectful way of saying, Dad, mom, you did a great job.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_03: I want to be part of it.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_02: So it is very family-friendly.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's a family show, and it's a proud show.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_03: You know, when you're done if you're not proud to be in our industry after you go to the Ohio show, um, I I don't know what's wrong with you.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, that's what I got turned on first of all by the Ohio show.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_03: It's it's an excellent family.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_03: It is the most family event of the year, I believe.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_02: I agree, I agree.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: Well, that brings us to our break, and when we come back, we're gonna have a co-operator that are gonna line up fire.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, we'll take a break, and we'll be right back.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_18: We have Google Factors, 45.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_18: So you are fire, power, or flight, we got you covered.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_18: To find the easy cover app, go to your Apple or Google Play store for a 30-day free trial.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: We also offer the National Tow Operator Certification, an independently sourced virtual testing program covering light duty, heavy-duty, electric, and alternative fuel vehicle.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome back, listeners.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_03: Of course, you know you're listening to the number one show in the towing and recovery industry.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_03: You're listening to Towing News Now podcast.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_03: And it's coming from the Towing Equipment Direct.com Studios.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_03: And April Wilburn and myself, the Tow Doctor, are proud to tell you that each and every week we bring you this podcast with the Wes Wilburn that will be on later on the segment here.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_03: Here he is 40 years, baby, 40 years in the industry.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_03: Wes Wilburn has helped so many.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_03: And that's the nice thing about towing equipmentdirect.com.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_03: You look at the equipment, and if you should have a question of anything of the application of it, you have a 40-year pro on the other end of the line that will contact you, follow up with you.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_03: Customer service there is phenomenal.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_03: So when you talk to customer service, if you ever need a question answered from Wes himself, they make sure he's the one who calls you back or he's the one who gets on the line if he's available.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so I want to tell all of you, please listen.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_03: We can't thank you enough.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_03: We're on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, or wherever you get your podcast.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_03: And without further ado, the wonderful spouse of Wes Wilburn, April Wilburn.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_04: April, thank you.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, DJ.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for that.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_02: Well, in this segment, we're going to talk about two operators in the line of fire.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_02: And here is the big picture.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_02: The big picture is tow truck operators are routinely dispatched into situations that are already pending, dangerous or unpredictable.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_02: They may be clearing a wreck, performing a reosion, removing an impounded vehicle, assisting a law enforcement, or somebody working along the shore of a highway.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_02: The operator often had nothing to do with creating the situation that can quickly become the person who is who is exposed to the anger, violence, traffic, or confrontation surrounding it.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: Politics is not going to be relevant to what I'm talking about here.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_02: But it did happen it did happen in a political heated moment.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: A cooperator in Chicago who in the Batilly Park area reacted or responded to an ice vehicle that was in a an accident, I guess it was an accident involving a uh a detainee that they were chasing.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_02: And the the co-operator was called to the scene.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_02: In that response, when he got there, he was through the body, who was injured by the people.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_02: Um and he finally had to leave the scene.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_02: That's how that's how bad it got.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_02: Uh after immigration agents were involved in the crashing of the Damon Avenue exit, a tow truck was called to remove the agents to be reached the SEV.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_02: And by that time, neighbors in immigration were about to respond, about the response activists had gathered in the area.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_02: Uh then we had to leave.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_02: They they finally dispatched a tow truck, another tow truck, again a gear and uh that tow truck just because it would towed the vehicle.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_02: But DJ, in addition to potentially the tow operator being in some kind of a danger, how uh how much traffic was tied up during that?
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's Chicago, it's a high traffic area, but probably a little bit worse than the Atlanta area.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, but April, we need to tell our twenty-two thousand listeners they were trying to help a federal agent vehicle.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_03: And that's why all the people were scurrying around.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_03: And it's it's a tough call, and I and I'm with you.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_03: Uh the skirmish was over the federal agent, and I'd wait for the police, I'd wait for other people, but it's sad that our country has come that way, and and we won't get into politics.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you won't get into politics, but there was an incident.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_02: The the top writer responded as per usual as they as they do.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_02: And all they needed to do was remove the vehicle.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_02: That vehicle couldn't have either I don't I don't care whose vehicle it was, it needed to be moved out of the way.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_02: Um and unfortunately it didn't it didn't escalate more than than it had.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_02: Because it could happen.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we're gonna we're gonna hear some stories here shortly where there was escalation.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_02: Uh the industry this angle is regardless of anyone's position or immigration policy, the tour operator did not make the arrest to create the policy, cause a crash, or organize a protest.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_02: They were dispatched to meet a vehicle to move a vehicle because the president to place them directly in the middle of a highly charged confrontation.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_02: Should the operator be expected to do their job after that?
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_02: I you yeah, just have a call.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I think I'm not probably gonna stay there, especially, you know.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_04: See I wouldn't.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I I don't think so, you know.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_03: Unless I had a fire truck that was gonna come in and help, or unless there was uh, you know, um i if you have a 60 ton uh to bring it on the scene.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_02: Or if all law enforcements are on your side, because in this situation federal is, but I don't know if the police are.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_02: In in that situation, I don't know if they are.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_02: I hope that they would be, but I'm not sure.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, but it didn't say that.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_03: You know, it was almost like the the federal the agent vehicle was there and they were just this assembling to show their disagreement with the federal agents.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_04: And um it's tough.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_02: Well, speaking of tough, um in Massachusetts, you know, this is gonna be all in the lineup.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_02: Our operators are out there just trying to get their job done, do their job, go home to their family.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_02: And from day to day and from job to job, they they don't know what they're gonna um encounter.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_02: They have no concept of it.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_02: In Massachusetts, uh repossession operator was attacked.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh in the Massachusetts were probably attacked with a machete while attempting to repossess it.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_02: The operator suffered a serious arm entering.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_02: This illustrates one of the most volatile parts of a telecurry that an operator can become the target of a vehicle owner's anger, even though the operator did not make the financial or legal decision that led to the repossession.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: You know I don't know if you've ever been into a financial situation, DJ I have once or twice, and you know likely you're coming to take what what it you know, what you owe the money on.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_02: It's and it's unfortunate and it is it it it's never a good day when it happens, but you're expecting it.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_03: Well, first of all, the poor guy I I d he was a forty-two-year-old guy, the tower that went in there, and you sit back and I agree with you.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_03: I I think that if someone came at me with uh equ you know, a a machete or something, I'd just say, Hey buddy, I don't need the the car that bad and I'd go get, you know, a sheriff or somebody like that.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_02: But how much time do you have to react to the if somebody's coming in with the mach they're not reasonable people at that point.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_11: Yeah.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: So you're trying to get away, but how reasonable with somebody with a machete when you're talking to them?
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_02: Uh they're not just saying, hey buddy, stay away from my car.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_02: They're they're intending to do something to you.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_03: And you know what's so sad is that you know when that TV show was on?
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_03: The green lizard or whatever it was, and he was in the yeah, he was in the repossession business.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_03: He thought he became a celebrity because he was so mean, so nasty.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: And then he would bring his wife on, and his wife would b beat up the the lady of the owner of the vehicle.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm saying to myself, that is terrible.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_03: It's the worst image, and he thought he was Mr.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: Hollywood, you know.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, well that's what people fortunately that's what people watch though.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_03: And they did, and I I met him at a tow show.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and he thought he was Yeah, yeah.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_03: He thought he was he w he wanted his picture taken with me.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, No, thank you.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_03: I I I don't want to need a picture.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_03: He said, No, we need a picture.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, No, I don't need that kind of you know, c representation that I even condone this kind of behavior.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_03: I don't.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_02: You know it's because North Carolina an impound, an operator was shot during an impound, a co-operator attempting to impound an illegally parked vehicle was reportedly confronted by an armed vehicle owner.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_02: See again, I don't know how reasonable you you may want to get away at this point.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_02: But there are you know, if somebody's coming at you with a gun, are they if you flee, are they are afraid that you're gonna tell them and they're gonna shoot you?
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_02: You don't know.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_02: You have seconds to you have seconds to discern that or uh make that judgment call.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_02: As the operator attempted to leave there as the attack as the operator was attempted to leave, shots were allegedly fired at the tow truck and the operator was struck in the back.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_02: We we did this story either last week or the week before and the gentleman survived on his name to be out there.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_02: And he was upright talking, so fortunately when he was shot in the back um it didn't hit any major arteries, but but it could have.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: You know.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_02: It it definitely could have.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_03: And he was on the the the TV and uh I agree.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_03: April uh I think our industry I that's I'm not big on private property towing.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_03: I just um there's some good guys in the industry and some terrible, terrible human beings in this in that industry.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_02: Well the problem the problem with that, DJ, is look at your area and the in the Atlanta area and how overwhelmed it is.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm not big on it either, but it is a necessary evil.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_02: And the bad trust goes to the big the one percent or the half a percent of the bad people out there.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_02: That's what you're gonna hear about because we're I'm having a hard time finding positive telling news stories, and I know there's hundreds of them out there.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_02: But that doesn't get to the front of the line.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_02: That that doesn't make the that doesn't make the news.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_03: Exactly right.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and the more the more weird it is, the more press it gets.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's hu that's probably human nature, you know.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_02: That's what we all kind of like.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_02: We watch the train wreck, we watch the, you know, if there's a fight in the parking lot at the at the program, we're probably gonna stop and watch it.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_02: You know, but um it's human nature, but I look I try every week to look for positive news stories and and at the end of the at least at the end of the podcast, I try to have one or two on there.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but it's new stories that can make it and impound driver there's only a very not even a microcosm number, but some of these that are bad, but the ones that are bad are gonna make the news.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_02: So um California service call turns into a violent attack.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_02: So this is a service call.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_02: This is just a guy reporting to a call.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_02: He called it again as ordinary website mechanic code and operator to danger that were impossible for dispatch or driver to and that was just a guy that was doing a job and felt like we were doing a good thing for somebody.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_02: How how that escalated You know, so again, it's another example of where a co-operator is responding to something with no known concept of what the state what what that call may turn into.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and to go out on a call and then to be hospitalized and placed in critical condition is terrible.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_02: Again, you know very likely if you're in a financial situation, your car is going to get repossession.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_02: Let that happen because it's gonna happen anyway.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_02: And then what happens you just put yourself in prison for a very long time.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_02: Matal incidents such as this underscore the repossession were a carry risk far beyond equipment operation and vehicle recovery.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_02: And then go ahead.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_03: April, we uh we say, you know, his name is uh Oliver Lopez, and he was killed during the repo uh repossession process.
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_03: But we don't talk about him being a dad.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_03: We don't talk about him being a brother.
• 29:22
  unknown: Yeah.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_03: We don't talk about him, you know, heading up a family and providing a livelihood for that family, and now that livelihood's gone.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_02: And the people that's an i that's an incident that affects numerous people.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_02: If and the gentleman who did the murder.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_02: If if he was having a bad day by getting his car repossessed, how much worse is it now?
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_02: He had a family too.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_02: His family is wretched.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_02: That's not as important as the guy he killed.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_02: Oliver Lopez's family is much, much more substantial because his life was taken.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_02: But yes, you're right, he was heading up a family.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_02: He had children to feed.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_02: And now they're they're trying to figure out, you know, probably how to make it.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, Read the uh go tell us about the next one from Colorado, because that's a sad story.
• 30:16
  SPEAKER_02: Colorado, adulted watch wanting to work like a co operator working to remove a disabled vehicle from IM reporting motion for a passing motor to move over.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_02: Authorities said the motor stopped and put it all for the operator, causing during entry to even an attempt to create a paper rotor working to revoke an unexpected competition.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_04: And all he was doing was telling the driver politely to move over.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_04: That's all it was.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_04: This guy parks the car, comes back, and whips him.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, just so Yeah, well, and then they put it down on their ticket as road rage.
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_03: And you sit there and going, you know, this guy is so sad.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_03: But there's people out there having bad days altogether.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_02: We're all having bad days from time to time.
• 31:19
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_02: Everybody every one of us has had bad days.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_02: That's not every that's that's my problem.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_02: If I'm having a bad day, that's my problem.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_02: That's not everybody else's problem.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_02: And this gentleman that assaulted the tow track operator made it everybody else's problem when he did that.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_04: He sure did.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_03: Well, what do you want to talk about in Virginia with Kelly?
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna we're gonna hold this one over to the next segment because we also have a video that accompanies that.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_03: But that's perfect.
• 31:52
  SPEAKER_03: So, how about listeners?
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_03: Let's take a quick break and run by some of the great people involved with us, and we'll be right back with Tony News Now podcast.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_03: Hold tight, we'll be right back.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_14: All of us, all of us industry special.
• 32:51
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• 32:54
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• 33:01
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• 33:07
  SPEAKER_14: Together, we all make a difference.
• 33:10
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• 33:16
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome back, listeners.
• 33:18
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• 33:23
  SPEAKER_03: Remember to like, review, and share everywhere with all your fellow people.
• 33:29
  SPEAKER_03: If you would like more information or you want to leave some stuff on the podcast, by all means, let me give you the number.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_03: And a wonderful person answers the phone.
• 33:41
  SPEAKER_03: Just dial 910-747-9000.
• 33:47
  SPEAKER_03: They'll answer.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_03: TonyEquipment Direct.com.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_03: How may I help you?
• 33:51
  SPEAKER_03: Well, in that case, then say, listen, we have some news that we'd like to put on the podcast.
• 33:57
  SPEAKER_03: Who can I talk to?
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_03: And the people will get you right in touch with April and Wes Wilburn, and we will go from there.
• 34:05
  SPEAKER_03: But I cannot thank you enough for sharing with fellow towers this website.
• 34:12
  SPEAKER_03: And towing equipmentdirect.com is a fantastic company.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_03: You go to the website, and the website gives you all the information, but I can give you the phone number if you should ever have any questions.
• 34:27
  SPEAKER_03: Just like a new tower coming into the industry, I said just dial 910-747-9000 and go from there.
• 34:38
  SPEAKER_03: And all you need to know is right there.
• 34:41
  SPEAKER_03: All right, April, I'm turning it back over to you.
• 34:44
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, DJ.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_02: All right, our um we're gonna come out, we're gonna talk about Kelly Laneman from Virginia.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_02: And we had this last week, but our our podcast ran long, but and the status update on her, I'll tell you guys this before we listen to the video because the video is from last week.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_02: She's still in intensive recovery.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_02: She's back home, but she's still having issues with her leg and apparently her arm too.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_02: She took a really big hit in that.
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_02: But tow operator Kelly Greenman was report was reported struck by a vehicle while finishing a tow on I-264 and suffered catastrophic injury.
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_02: This represents the danger of the towing industry has fought for years to the slowdown move over.
• 35:29
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, Chuck, can you play that video?
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_17: The sister of a Chesapeake Base tow truck driver is asking for more kindness on our roadways after her sister was hit on I-264 while finishing the tow.
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_17: The driver of the car that struck her is charged and connected with the incident.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_17: Derek Lytle spoke to the victim's sister about what happened.
• 37:24
  SPEAKER_07: According to Virginia State Police, the driver of the car that charge with reckless driving.
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_05: I'm there, so now I'm really just pushing for people to kind of obey that law.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_07: Derek Whitele, 13 News Now.
• 37:47
  SPEAKER_17: And the towing community has raised more than$10,000 for her recovery.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_02: So she had put the last trap on and was getting ready to get in the truck and and that happened.
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_02: She's got a long road of recovery to go through too.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_02: She's got great family support and great community um outreach on her side.
• 38:15
  SPEAKER_04: Boy, oh boy.
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_03: Did they tell you where to send money to help Kelly?
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_03: See, ten thousand dollars.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_03: Do you remember April April three yeah, three years ago that Kelly, my neighbor, got hit up in Philadelphia, and she's the daughter of an extremely wealthy family.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_03: It took their money.
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_03: She is now walking with a walker.
• 38:47
  unknown: Yeah.
• 38:47
  SPEAKER_03: But she's up and around, she's out of the hospital, but it took years.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_03: And it takes time and it takes money.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_03: And she's gonna have to go to physical therapy at a place like Shepherd's, or but it takes who do you know type of thing.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna um when this podcast airs and I um share to everybody, I'm gonna find if there's a GoFundMe or some kind of donation page to attach to it to uh to help that with that.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_02: And I'll put that I'll put it down on the face all the all the social media area too.
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_04: Yes.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, she's got a long road ahead of her enough.
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_02: You're right, it's gonna take ten thousand dollars is a substantial amount of money, but it's uh just a drop in the bucket to probably drop in the bucket.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_03: I wonder if the Ohio show this year, you know, 'cause they have that fund for the injured driver fund.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_03: I wonder if a portion of that will be going to to Kelly.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if she know they know how to do you have to apply for it.
• 39:59
  SPEAKER_03: No, but it would be good to l let Bruce Bender know about Kelly because Virginia's part of that Ohio show.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_03: They all do it together.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_02: Is Bruce still involved with uh the Midwestern show?
• 40:13
  SPEAKER_04: I thought he was here.
• 40:20
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 40:20
  SPEAKER_04: Oh yeah.
• 40:21
  SPEAKER_04: Bruce is still involved with it, yeah.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_04: Maybe we'll reach out to our friends and see what we can do for Wow.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_04: Well, did Wes get a chance to come back, April?
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_02: No, he's tied up, and I'm just gonna we're just gonna finish this up, you know.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_03: Uh well we're finishing up on because everybody who told me about Kelly told me that she was a wonderful, wonderful lady.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_03: And I know that John uh Weaver in Georgia, he has all the towers in Georgia trying to raise money for Kelly.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_02: We got one more story to kind of end on a little bit of a higher note, and that's a local tow company in Washington State is helping clear off the area.
• 41:10
  SPEAKER_12: The EPA is making its way through neighborhoods, marking burned vehicles so they can either be tested for hazardous material or removed and taken to the top.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_09: Today was with a towing company today that's offering its services for free.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_09: So take us through how this process works.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_16: So it's they ask me if I can help it.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_15: There's no way I could find out.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_15: I can find their page on Facebook at 777coin.
• 43:10
  SPEAKER_15: If you have any questions about the EPA's process, you can visit their official website at EPA.gov.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_15: Live from Rifle Club Road, sunny day, four news now.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_02: So they're probably busy enough running their their tow company, but they're still finding a little bit of time to help their community out.
• 43:27
  SPEAKER_02: And that's the note I want to leave the podcast on.
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_03: Boy, that's the way to leave it, April.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_03: I tip my hat to these people.
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_03: It's wonderful.
• 43:36
  SPEAKER_03: Wonderful news.
• 43:38
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_03: Uh we need more of that kind of stuff.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_02: We do.
• 43:43
  SPEAKER_02: And they're out there.
• 43:44
  SPEAKER_02: We just need people to um to to contact me here at 9107479 um and let me know where these stories are at, and I'll definitely have them on.
• 43:56
  SPEAKER_03: You got it.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_03: April, thank you so much for d for starlighting the podcast today.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_03: I really appreciate you.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_03: You're a wonderful you know, every time people say, Was that lady that was in the booth at the show?
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_03: Was that Wes's wife?
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_03: Oh yeah.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_03: She's out here first hand.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_03: She knows the industry.
• 44:26
  SPEAKER_03: You're right.
• 44:27
  SPEAKER_03: And everybody loves you.
• 44:29
  SPEAKER_03: That's met you, April.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_03: You are a very wonderful lady.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_03: As as Wes says, until next week.
• 44:40
  SPEAKER_03: Be safe out there.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_03: Is that what he says, April?
• 44:42
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly what he says.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_03: Well, we love all of you, and we thank you for participating with this great podcast.
• 44:51
  SPEAKER_03: And we'll see you next week.