Behind the Scenes of Towing: Hands-On Training and Auction Success Stories

Ever wondered how a fishing trip could delay a podcast? Join DJ Harrington and Dariann Weaver as they share a light-hearted story about Darian's recent fishing mishap before diving into the Alabama Towing and Recovery Association's incredible work. Discover the highlights of the Extreme Recovery Workshop at Barber Motorsports Park, featuring industry titans like Tom Luciano and John Hawkins, who promise hands-on training amidst the excitement of live racing and a top-tier motorcycle museum. Whether you're gearing up for this anticipated event or simply looking to understand the association's impact, this segment is packed with insights and information you won't want to miss.

But that's not all—towing businesses, get ready to revolutionize your revenue streams with online impound auctions! Learn how these auctions offer a cost-effective and efficient way to boost income, featuring testimonials from satisfied users like Donna Roberts of Twisted Hook LLC. As Father's Day approaches, DJ and Darian take a heartfelt moment to honor the fathers in the towing industry, reflecting on their immense sacrifices and commitment. Don’t forget to catch their touching tribute to the mothers who stand by their side. Join us for a blend of valuable industry insights and heartfelt moments that celebrate the towing community.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

Welcome one and all to Toe Professional Podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go. This is truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. I'm DJ Harrington, your co-host, better known as the Toe Doctor, and the real host of this program is the president and publisher of Toad Professional Magazine, a dear friend of the industry, a good friend of mine and a friend of all, darren Weaver Darren, how are you today?

Speaker 2: 0:37

Man DJ. I am fantastic. No fishing hook in my finger today, so it's a great day, beautiful here in Alabama.

Speaker 1: 0:46

Our poor listeners. Now they're going to have to want to know Our last podcast. We were delayed because of a person on the other end of this podcast who put a fishing hook through his thumb. It looked nasty. And what you do? You cut the heart of the fishing hook off. What you do? You cut the part of the fishing hook off and then you pulled the rest out yeah, yeah, and then we, then we did the podcast.

Speaker 2: 1:13

So you know there's more than one way to get hooked up in this industry. I can tell you that, oh my lord, you know there's. You can't blame me if you're not trying to sneak off and go fishing. Something's wrong with you. So I had to try it. You can't blame me if you're not trying to sneak off and go fishing. Something's wrong with you.

Speaker 1: 1:25

So I had to try well, one day, one day at the florida toe show, we could pass out fishing hooks. Yeah, and everybody who comes by and says, yeah, is there a fishing hook story in this podcast, and said, here you are a free fishing hook oh man, yeah, without a doubt.

Speaker 2: 1:43

Well, this is going to be a good one. Dj, you know we've got a lot of things happening coming up, so I wanted to highlight one of our advertisers, which is Online Impound Auctions, and I also wanted to highlight the Alabama Towing and Recovery Association Association. Let me tell you, these men and women do a tremendous job each year, you know, working on laws, legislation, other things affecting our towers right here in Alabama, but one of the key things that they try and center on for their members is training, and they do a phenomenal job with that, from working with folks like that, friends of ours like Perry Beatty with Hazmat Responder Network, working with the fire college. They also do hazmat classes a couple times a year and we've got coming up a extreme recovery class. So I'm excited about that, excited about telling our listeners about the details of it.

Speaker 1: 2:48

Well, I think it's a great idea and this is a good time to remind our listeners If there's a state association that has upcoming training involving your state association that we could help promote. By all means, we have a hotline number at the podcast center and Darren and I would love to have any information pertaining to your state association that you would like to put out on the podcast. Just go to 706-409-5603, and Darren and I. That's a hotline that goes right here to to the studio and we'll take care of it. But, darren, tell me a little bit more about the Alabama touring and recovery association.

Speaker 2: 3:33

Well, I tell you what they're doing. This is their third year, dj, of doing this extreme recovery and it's it's hosted by Austin Hines Motors. We know Greg Hines over there. He's a phenomenal man, great family and a pillar in this industry. He helps work in conjunction with Alabama Towing and Recovery Association and Miller Industries and they put on a three-day extreme recovery workshop with Tom Luciano and Miller Industries and it's sponsored by Austin Hines.

Speaker 2: 4:10

But let me tell you, that's just the tip of the iceberg, dj, this is done. You know, training is great Training by some of the top instructors and industries. It's even better. But even better than that is it's held at Barber Motorsports Park and if folks out there don't know what this is, it's a 14-acre proving ground that was opened in 2014 to serve as a test facility for the Barber Museum, and this track hosts IndyCar Series races, moto America GT World Challenge America races and the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America races, the Atlantic Championship, many others. So let me tell you, every year I've been there, dj these men and women are able to go through training and while they're in class, they peek out the window and you see these cars out there racing on the track. In addition to that, the museum has an unbelievable, probably the largest collection in the world, of motorcycles, fully restored. So just the motorcycles there, also classic cars and just very rare cars right there inside the museum and you get to train while you're there. So it's best of both worlds.

Speaker 1: 5:33

Now, when is this?

Speaker 2: 5:36

This one that's coming up is going to be held. It's going to be this year, it's going to be November, the 5th through the 7th. So it's a three day course and it'll be the 5th through the 7th, and Barber Motorsports is right outside of Birmingham. It's real easy to get to. And let me tell you, DJ, the first year I think they had 50 plus students. Last year they had almost 80. And this year they've opened it up to right around 100 students. So it's something. If you're planning on getting this training for extreme recovery, if you're looking at getting this training, make sure you sign up quickly, because this will fill up and it has every year and left people outside the class wanting to get in. So make sure you sign up early this year. Gotcha and Tommy.

Speaker 1: 6:31

Luciano is one of the instructors.

Speaker 2: 6:34

Yes, john Hawkins and Tommy Luciano. Tom Luciano were there teaching the class and, and let me tell you you talk about a test, a text knowledge between both those gentlemen. They show you the way it's done correctly and it's a hands-on course. You know they do the textbook training, inside knowledge. Go through everything there and then they take you out on the facility and let me tell you, dj, it's unbelievable. Last year they had an excavator off down an embankment. They had a garbage truck off in a ravine. They had what looked like a tour bus over on its side that they were lifting and bringing between two rotators. So it's a very unbelievable course. It's hands-on and it's just like you would be dealing with on the side of the interstate. They're going to provide you with all the safety training, the rigging techniques and so on, training, the rigging techniques and so on, and you get it from two of the legends in the industry, tom Luciano and John Hawkins. And let me tell you, if our listeners can make it there, it will be a tremendous benefit for them, not just the training, but they're going to be blown away by the facility that it's at. Well, dj, another note on this, on this extreme recovery three-day training. Like I said, it's only $7.75 a student. It's a tremendous value in this industry here at Barber Motorsports and, like I said, being taught by legends like Tom Luciano is phenomenal.

Speaker 2: 8:20

But in saying that, I also want to ask our listeners keep Tom in your thoughts and prayers. Tom, on May 23, 2024, tom's wife, darlene Gay Luciano, 69 years old, lost her battle with cancer. If y'all ever met Tom, he's a great guy, straightforward, but let me tell you, under his chiseled character is a heart of gold. That man sat out in the parking lot at the hospital before DJ, you remember, and did a podcast for us in the past. He has a heart and a passion for this industry, but I'm sure his heart's hurting now. So we just ask our listeners remember Tom Luciano in your prayers, remember his sweet wife Darlene in your prayers when you hug your family today, and with saying that, dj, let's take a quick break, get our word in from our awesome sponsors and then we'll come right back and talk more about this training. Listeners, stay tuned, we'll be right back.

Speaker 4: 9:33

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Speaker 4: 10:10

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Speaker 1: 11:23

Welcome back listeners. You know you're listening to Toe Professional On the Go podcast Each and every week. We do our best to bring you informative episodes. Darren and I do our best to do that. Make sure you download and listen. We're available on Spotify, itunes, pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia, amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. And before the break, we were talking about the Alabama Tonal Recovery Association with their big, big, big training November 5th through the 7th. Now, darren, who do you want to talk about in this segment?

Speaker 2: 12:03

Well, in this next segment, I tell you who I want to talk about. Dj is online impound auctions. I tell you they've been an advertiser with Tote Professionals for a long time here, been a long-term advertiser and from what I've seen in this area, they do a phenomenal job. Out there in the market. One of the biggest questions is, hey, how do we generate more revenue streams and how do I get more for the vehicles that are here that I'm selling, you know, rather than just low to the dollar scrap fees? Well, the key here is online impound auctions. They heard what everybody was saying. They stepped in and they do this. It's free for sellers. It helps you maximize your per vehicle, take no annual membership fees, no auction listing fees and no charge for unsold vehicles, which is phenomenal through the roof. So they're one of, I would say, from what a lot of our listeners have told us. Some of our readers in the industry have told us that the shows DJ is one of the best values in the industry, from the easy online showroom setup that they're able to do on online impoundauctionscom, the low bidder fees and fees to the sellers, and then easy bidding on any device from anywhere for anybody that wants to bid on their cars on their lot, and it eliminates on-premise auction costs, which are one of the biggest pains is keeping up with that paperwork and those on-premise auction costs. So one of the best ways to sell abandoned vehicles is online these days and online in-pound auctions has figured this out. Their sale prices have been substantially increased overall on auction renew. One of their testimonial states from Donna Roberts of Twisted Hook LLC of Griffin, georgia, says that their revenue went up when they started using it.

Speaker 2: 14:02

So I think a key for that is to look into this. You know, as with Tow Professional, we say we don't have the answers for everyone. What we can do is put that information out there so you can dig into it. So if you're out here listening to this podcast now, go in and take a look. They've got a very interactive site. You can go to onlineinpoundauctionscom. When you pull that up, there's a place for buyers to check out the site. There's a place for buyers to check out the site. There's a place for sellers to check it out and they go through and tell you everything that they offer. They also have a breakdown of when upcoming auctions are.

Speaker 2: 14:36

So one thing I've seen that they do DJ is not only do they help you get this set up, but they also help advertise your auction coming up when the venue is going live and so on, so that they can help advertise your auction coming up when the venue is going live and so on, so that they can help maximize your profits. So for me, I think it's a great way to bring a new revenue stream in. And it's a company that their mission statement is to maximize monies received for abandoned vehicles and minimize the event effort to hold that auction. And it's a woman-owned business. Online in-pound auctions is minority-owned business, with 51% woman-owned and over 25% minority-owned. So it's a company that speaks for itself, stands tall and has, from what we've been told in the industry, has been a great help to our owners out here with their services.

Speaker 1: 15:32

Well, I can tell you a little bit about online in-pound auctions. At the Florida Tow Show they have the booth next to Dalen Zartman's.

Speaker 5: 15:42

You know what?

Speaker 1: 15:43

I'm saying I'm in the booth talking to Dalen and all of a sudden I hear I know that voice, I know that voice. I'm like, excuse me. She said you're the voice on the Toe Professional podcast and I thought what? Yeah, the magazine, you have a podcast. I said yeah, darren, and I. She said you're the voice we hear on the podcast and I'm like you've got to be kidding me, but every year at the Florida Toe Show they're right next to ESA.

Speaker 2: 16:17

Yeah, and they were packed out.

Speaker 1: 16:21

We went by there last year at the Florida and it was packed. I mean, people are going in there Because a lot of our listeners are sitting there with vehicles in their yard that could be generating revenue for them. So there's money in that yard. You just have to get a hold of online impound auctions to make that money operative for yourself and put the money towards maybe putting a roof on the building or adding a new truck or going and getting a new winch. I mean, there's so many things that those vehicles in your yard that you're thinking about. I wonder how much I could get for that baby.

Speaker 2: 17:03

Well, and I know our listeners are are wondering right now. Well, I mean, how does how does this work? I mean, you just mentioned a minute ago no sign-up fees to join, no annual fees, no hidden fees of any sort and no relist and unsold vehicle fee. So I know everybody's going okay, where's the catch? Well, there's not, because that's one of the questions that's asked.

Speaker 2: 17:26

So, while online impound auctions does not charge the seller, online impound auctions charges the bidder a buyer fee. It's real simple, and they ask to collect that fee for online impound auctions while you're collecting your vehicle payment. So it's a simple flat fee per car that you pass to the winning bidder and this is how it works. It's clearly shown to the bidders. Thus there are no surprises to them. It's added to the bidder's notice of winning bid that they send out to both you and the winning bidder, and then a fee you, the seller, collect from that high bidder when you settle on the vehicle online auctions. You're collecting it all directly from the buyer. It's already handled and then you'll make an auction prepayment deposit before the auctions are activated through the site. It makes it simple.

Speaker 2: 18:13

So, and another question to ask DJ is what if I have a vehicle that doesn't sell, can I relist it? From time to time some folks have a vehicle that auction doesn't get a bid, so it happens for multiple reasons. Sometimes the price can be too high, open my showroom late, didn't attract enough bidders, didn't have appropriate photos and so on. But you're not charged for any vehicle that doesn't gain a winning bid and you're free to relist that vehicle on a future auction. So from what I've seen and what's very informative on their website, they make it as simple as they can for our tow owners to turn the metal sitting in their yard into money Real simple, so it's a win-win-win.

Speaker 2: 19:03

Not a doubt. So I tell you. If you want to know more about it, folks just reach out to them. You can go to again OnlineImpoundAuctionscom Real, simple OnlineImpoundAuctionscom or you can give them a call. You can reach them on their toll-free number it's 888-903-4678, or just email them at info at onlineimpoundauctionscom. Simply tell them what you've got going on, ask them if their program can work for you, and they'll tell you how they can put more dollars in your cash register and do it simple and with less work that you're having to do than what you're currently doing to get rid of them. So reach out to them, give them a call 888-903-4678. And that's online impound options. Dj, you want to take a commercial break? Yeah, come back to.

Speaker 1: 19:56

Matt, yeah, let's do this For our listeners. Let's take a real fast commercial break and when we come back, let's talk about Father's Day and what you do on Father's Day, which is coming up. We'll be right back.

Speaker 4: 20:16

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Speaker 5: 20:45

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Speaker 3: 21:41

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Speaker 1: 21:56

Welcome back listeners. Of course you know you're listening to the number one podcast in the industry Tow Professional On the Go Podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know that are on the go. I'm DJ Harrington and Darren Weavers, our co-host. Believe me, if any of you want a professional person or your state association has some information they want to share with the towing industry, just dial our 706-409-5603. And we'd love to hear from you and what professional person you'd like on the podcast. So, darren, as we're doing, this podcast is being dropped into the public right before Father's Day. So what are your thoughts about Father's Day?

Speaker 2: 22:47

Man, I tell you that's one that always gets me DJ, and especially when you're talking about this industry. Because when you're looking at towers, we're looking at men and women in the industry that serve long hours, that are always on the call, that are always there at the time of need. And when it comes to Father's Day, it makes me think about the men out there that get up when they don't want to get up. They put their boots on when they don't feel like putting them on. They go out there, whether it's ice on the ground or whether it's 120 degrees on the asphalt on the side of the highway, and they walk that white line, make that their office. And they do it not just because they have service heart and want to take care of those members, but because they've got a passion and a love for their family as well and because nothing will stop them from making it happen so that they can provide for their family. So I tell you, when it comes to Father's Day, that's what I think of.

Speaker 2: 23:52

I think for the fathers that sacrifice the holidays, the kids' games, the birthdays, the graduations, the Christmases, and sometimes run away from the table on Thanksgiving to go get that next call, to make sure that those things keep happening for the family. So in saying that, DJ, my hat's off to all you men. Some of you don't get enough appreciation, you don't get enough pats on your back, but all you got to do is look in that mirror and I'll tell you that's the guy that's making it happen. So we take our hat off and we salute you on this upcoming Father's Day, and we also salute every one of our mothers. We did not, I don't want to leave them out, because they're the ones that help our fathers be able to get up and charge forward and make all of that work worthwhile.

Speaker 1: 24:43

Boy, you hit it on the head Today, my own granddaughter, 12 years old. I'm taking her to a center and she says to me, grandpa, what was your dad like? And I said well Haley, my father was vice president of Bethlehem Steel and I'm one of 12 children and I want to tell our listeners, if you want to know, about a guy who had to work really hard. I remember the day, darren, that my father laid off 1,116 people and his driver came into the house. His name was Marshall, was the driver and he said kids, your dad is on the phone in the car and he wants. He'll be here in a minute, but I have to tell you he laid off 1,116 people today and he's got a tear in his eye because he realized he laid off 1,116 families.

Speaker 1: 25:48

Yes, so in our industry, the towing industry is so family orientated that we have a lot of people out there that work father's day so that they can protect the motoring public yes, opening up freeways and highways to keep currency of everything going. So I tip my hat. And we have such great families out there. So that's the reason why I enjoy doing the podcast with you, darren, because I've been blessed with a great father who really took care of me. But, knowing you, you talk about our heavenly father over anybody, so that's the reason why I figured you know. I want to wish everyone Happy Father's Day, happy Mother's Day, which was just a couple weeks back, but it's going to be Happy Children's Day one day. And I want to thank all the people that listen to this podcast, because, as we worry about Father's Day, there's guys like Darren Weaver who always talks about our Heavenly Father. So I'll turn it over to you.

Speaker 2: 26:55

Well, I tell you, DJ, and I'll add on to Father's Day it really means something special to me myself, simply because, right at I want to say it was 18 years ago. Let me back up, Let me work on my math here. 16 years ago my wife and I were married and my child came into my life, Mo Powell, at the time when me and Holly were married and as of this upcoming Father's Day, Mo is changing name to Weaver from Powell.

Speaker 2: 27:44

Oh my yes and has asked me if I would adopt her. Let me tell you I've been on cloud nine since I've heard about that, but this is a child that's called me daddy, since you know, a month in this child's life. And what Father's Day means to me is there's a lot of folks that can create a child in this world, but it takes a father to raise one, and you know, I wasn't a, I didn't have a child myself, but God blessed me to be a father to the fatherless and my child that that's what I work for daily is my child and my wife, because they are an absolute blessing and, uh, that's my father's day. It's always one, and it's uh, every day is happy because I am one.

Speaker 1: 28:43

Well, I know one thing Chuck camp, who's the producer of this podcast. He is a dead. Chuck, Grab your mic. How many children, how many sons do you have?

Speaker 4: 28:54

I have four sons and one daughter.

Speaker 1: 28:56

There you go.

Speaker 4: 28:58

And you really yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:59

And Darren Chuck Camp is one super dad.

Speaker 2: 29:03

So yeah, I tell you that some mothers or something else, kids will never forget them. But a father will always have a child's heart in a special kind of way, and Chuck knows that. You know, having those babies it's an absolute blessing. Every part of it, even the hard parts, it's an absolute blessing.

Speaker 4: 29:29

Best job on the planet. Yeah, without a doubt, parts is my absolute blessing.

Speaker 2: 29:31

Best job on the planet? Yeah, without, without a doubt. So, listeners, with that, I just I want to end this and say we appreciate your listening, your loyalty, and we've got a special treat for you coming up. The next issue that hits hands is a tribute to the women of towing. We've got some fantastic editorial in there on some leaders in the industry or women of towing that have come into this industry, put a good foot forward and have built a tremendous business, and they talk about the products, the helping hands and things they've had that's helped them along. So we're happy to be able to give back and be able to highlight those women of towing and the blessing they are to the men in their lives as well. And I want to end this like always and just say, dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for every one of our listeners. I thank you for every one of our vendors.

Speaker 2: 30:27

We've got some of the best clients, dealers, distributors, manufacturers in industry not just clients of mine, but friends. The people that run in tow professional are great folks and, lord, I just ask you, lift them up, you protect them, you bless them and you increase them for what they're doing in this industry. You have to bring more safety and more quality products to the industry. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for our first responders, for every one of our tow men and women, for our fathers in industry, for our military men and women that are out there every day standing in the line holding up for us. Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you bless them, hold them up, increase them their knowledge, their wealth, their physical, spiritual fitness and bless them in their days so that their life might be long. We thank you, father, for your blessings and your precious name, amen. And we thank you, listeners, for listening to us every week with Toe Professional on the go podcast, dj Chuck, it's been a great one. Thanks again and God bless everybody Till next time.