2009 NW Tow Expo – Thumbs Up

If there seemed to be an unusually high number of tow trucks on I-5 last week, it was for a good reason. Tow trucks from all over the Northwest drove to Ferndale, Washington last weekend to participate in the Towing & Recovery Association of Washington’s 2009 Northwest Tow Truck Exposition, the association’s largest annual event.

From all corners of Washington, to the far reaches of Canada and Idaho tow trucks made the trek to the greater Bellingham area to participate in the unique social event. Washington state towing company’s were on hand representing Spokane, Seattle, Moses Lake, Everett, Nisqually, Wenatchee, Bellevue, and many other cities.

Tow trucks big and small found their way to the NW Tow Expo, hosted by TRAW, many vying to earn awards for top show truck, best working truck along with several other awards. Prizes for the show trucks were broken down into categories: Class A (Light Duty), Class B (Medium Duty), and Class C (Heavy Duty) tow trucks. Dick’s Towing of Everett, WA was one of the big winners of this year’s event. Several of the green and white trucks that were displayed earned awards and notoriety.

A 1929 Ford Model AA tow truck was displayed by Airport Towing. The truck was awarded second place in the Class A (Light Duty Tow Truck) Show N Shine category. The only antique truck on hand earned a parking spot at the center of the Expo and was an instant crowd favorite among spectators. “The 29″ was the result of a ground up restoration effort by the late Mark Storer (founder of Airport Towing), and his employees. The classic truck was originally used as a tow truck in South Dakota until Mark welcomed it into his collection by driving half way across the country to pick it up and tow it home.

As the tow show continued and truck operators from around the Pacific Northwest swapped stories with each other, a retired married couple shared a story telling of what they had just recently learned about tow trucks. Before the heavy trucks started rolling in, as crews were preparing to set up the tow expo one couple staying at the hotel & convention center said they received a note on the windshield of their oversized R.V. stating that they needed to move their vehicle out of the back parking lot or it would be towed. The pair typically travels all over the U.S.A. and has never experienced a threat that their house-on-wheels would actually be towed. The husband laughed and said, “What kind of a tow truck could they possible send to tow this thing?! They can’t be serious!” Minutes later as they were preparing to move to the other side of the hotel, tow trucks started pouring in. After they had gotten a look at the tow trucks on approach, the husband reverted his previous statement, confessing, “I had no idea they were serious! Look at those tow trucks! It could pick us up and dangle us around in the air!!” Many spectators who happened to be in the area were impressed with the display on hand from the towing operators.

One of the awards issued for Class C (heavy duty tow truck) was presented to Nisqually Towing, located in Olympia, Washington. Nisqually’s solid red 4 axle Peterbilt was a beautiful addition to the 2009 show. Another tow operator who brought their newly acquired heavy duty tow truck to display among local tow truck operators was Mac Towing of Redmond, WA. Mac’s new blue Peterbilt features large flames down both sides of the truck.

The trade show not only displayed tow trucks, but also featured vehicle and equipment suppliers with opportunities for them to present their best product to the towing industry. Tow truck operators are known for their heavy and frequent use of their machinery. They are constantly putting their trucks and tools to the test while working tirelessly in the field. As a result, most tow truck operators require the gear they purchase to be of the highest standard and utmost durability. From snow chains to trucks chassis; winch cables to tires, the men and women of the towing industry get a lot of use from their equipment and expect it to hold up in the worst conditions. With the introduction of the new Dodge Ram 5500, many tow truck operators are making the switch from Ford and Chevrolet due to durability and strength issues. Dodge began building the heavier trucks two years ago and will be picking up where GM is leaving off as they have announced they will no longer be building the Kodiak and Top Kick medium duty trucks as of this year.

The highest standards still apply to many of the towing companies that have been operating for several decades. Randy’s Towing of Wenatchee, Washington recently had Idaho Wrecker Sales build them a new medium duty tow truck that was on display in Ferndale. Although the economy is forcing all businesses to take a close look at their operating expenses, towing operators do not have the luxury of making cuts on their equipment purchases without serious repercussions. For those that plan on working their equipment hard every day in emergency situations and under poor conditions, ‘almost the right truck for the job’ is not good enough. With tow trucks, it is critical to have the right truck for the job and those who have been in the industry for any length of time realize that it is not worth making cuts when it comes to equipment purchases.

While much of TRAW’s 2009 NW Tow Expo was a chance for owners and sales staff to connect for purposes of doing business together, the show was equally about having fun. Families enjoyed spending their time at the show visiting with each other, eating together, showing off trucks, and even competing against each other in friendly competitions. Rouse’s Towing of Spokane, WA showed their one-of-a-kind Chevrolet SSR with detachable tow unit. It is likely the only SSR tow truck in the world.

As for competitions, Airport Towing General Manager Daryl Wilson completed the service call competition in just 30 seconds, taking first prize among competitors. The service call contest consisted of a series of field exercises that had to be completed for time. Operators were tasked with performing three types of service on a 2000 Mazda Protege, which required multiple steps to complete. The vehicle was completely locked and all compartments closed at the beginning of the competition. The objective was to unlock the vehicle using door entry tools, followed by opening the trunk to access the vehicle’s spare tire, lug wrench, and a floor jack. The tire and changing tools had to be placed by the driver within a boxed area near the front of the car. Finally, the driver had to access a jump box in the trunk, open the hood of the car, and connect it to the appropriate cables. Many drivers from around the Northwest accepted the challenge. Some failed to finish. Throughout the day Daryl’s name had been compared to several superheroes, earning him the reputation as a master of service calls among his peers. Despite an economic recession the 2009 NW Tow Expo was a huge success, earning more participation and boasting more fun than the previous year.