Afleveringen

  • June is National Safety Month. This is the perfect time for everyone to focus on how they can keep their environment safe and free from any danger. Safety is critically important in the towing industry. So this month’s Get Hooked podcast is all about raising awareness for safety.

    Your hosts, Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins talk about why there is a National Safety Month, why it's so important in the workplace, and what towing businesses like yours should be doing to stay safe while in the truck, while out on the road assisting motorists, loading and unloading vehicles on the tow truck. You'll get a brief overview of towing industry-related laws you should be aware of, and we’re bringing on 32-year automotive lighting veteran/ industry expert, John Golden, Market Manager from Whelen Engineering who will provide his insights on why and how to use lighting on your truck to stay safe.

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com.

  • Check out HONK’s Get Hooked podcast, all about electric vehicles (EVs)! There are 2.4 million EVs on the road today, and 39% of people are considering buying one. Is your towing and roadside business prepared to support these new electric vehicles? Listen to this episode to pick up a few tips and tricks for towing EVs from tow truck expert Chris Young of Parkway Consulting and podcast hosts Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins.

    Towing and roadside jobs for EVs are not more complex than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Tow professionals just need to follow a slightly different set of procedures for these jobs. As vehicles evolve, so must the towing and roadside procedures we follow.

    Here are a few things you’ll learn during the podcast. 1) Why it’s crucial to use 8-point connection points and how to follow the manufacturers' recommendations tow eyelet use. 2) Why you should invest in EV/Hybrid training to keep your tow operators in the know. 3) The benefits of documenting what you’re doing to these vehicles and how to protect yourself from unwarranted damage claims. And much more!

    Do you want to attend EV Training? HONK worked with Wreckmaster to provide the towing and roadside community a $15 discount off their Hybrid/EV Awareness online training course. Listen to the podcast to get your promo code.

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com.


  • Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?

    Klik hier om de feed te vernieuwen.

  • Welcome to season 3 of HONK’s Get Hooked Podcast! We open up this season with a great discussion on the state of the union, towing and roadside edition. Listen in to understand how the pandemic, inflation, rising fuel prices, and geopolitical issues impact our industry.

    Your hosts, Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins, also share exciting results from a recent tow industry survey highlighting what fellow tow business owners are experiencing. Hint, hint! There is a ton of upside and growth within the towing and roadside industry. Job volume is continuing to surpass pre-pandemic levels. In fact, according to the Federal Highway Commission, traffic volume in November of 2021 was up 11.2% year over year and is continuing to climb in 2022. That means many tow businesses are hiring and looking to buy new trucks. As a result, the towing and roadside industry outlook in 2022 is bright.

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com.

    Do you want to view the Towing & Roadside Survey Results? Check it out!

  • Every year on the third Saturday of October, we recognize National Move Over Day. The day set aside to spread awareness of National and State Move Over laws, designed to highlight the risks Tow Operators face every day on our highways. Introducing, the Slow Down Move Over edition of season 2 of HONK’s Get Hooked podcast, a conversation about the cause of the risks tow operators face every day, what action can be taken to help spread awareness, and what you can do in your local community to make a difference.

    Hosts, Dennis and Y’von welcome back guests, Haas Alert National Director of Sales, Tom Parbs, and Executive Director of APTRA, Angela Roper-Barnett for a deeper dive into the “distracted driving” culture, the statistics and data being used today to create better legislation on behalf of tow operators, and the initiatives taking place across the United States to spread awareness of this topic. This eye-opening discussion covers roadside hazards new and old that put operators at risk and the reality roadside customers are tragically impacted by these same struck-by incidents.

    We also take the time to highlight Haas Alert’s vision for their “No More Names on the Wall” campaign, the solemnity of International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame Museum’s annual “Wall of the Fallen” ceremony, and the necessity of APTRA’s annual National Move Over Day event.

    This episode is a call to action for every Tow Truck business owner. Grab your drivers and your dispatchers, grab your family and friends and take action now. Listen to the episode today for information that could save your life tomorrow.

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com

  • Happy National Truck Driver Appreciation Week! Every September we nationally recognize professional truck drivers for their invaluable contributions to our communities. There are over 3.6 million professional men and women who deliver our goods safe and secure. Along with their contributions, we want to be sure to celebrate the unsung heroes of the tow industry, all our tow truck drivers for keeping our roads clear and helping families make it home safely. In honor of your service, this episode’s is all about tow trucks and tow equipment.

    Hosts, Dennis and Y’von are joined by WorldWide Equipment Sales CEO, Jeff Irr. With over 31 years of experience and extensive expertise working in the trucking industry for some of the largest known truck manufacturers, Jeff shares his thoughts on what it takes to establish and maintain a tow truck business today. During this in-depth conversation, you’ll hear about everything there is to know about purchasing tow trucks, managing a towing business, and the future technology that is transforming the towing industry.

    Current and future tow business owners, listen to this episode now to gain valuable tips on tow business finances, more about the complexities of recoveries, new and future technology designed to keep your operators safe, and the 411 on the emerging electric vehicle industry and its impact on the towing industry.

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com.

  • June is National Safety month and this month’s Get Hooked podcast episode is all about ways to keep tow operators and motorists safe while on the road. Your podcast hosts, Yvon St. Cyr and Dennis McGowan spark up discussions about new and improved ways tow business owners are keeping their drivers safe, along with Tom Parbs, National Director for HAAS Alert who provides us with insights into the safety problems our industry is facing and how tow associations across the nation are helping more tow operators make it home safely to their families.

    This episode takes a deep dive into the leading causes of “struck-by incidents, the psychology of the motorist and how it affects the awareness of tow operator signals, and we break ground on the shocking truth behind who’s really at risk during these unfortunate events.

    Having safety discussions now with your tow operators is important as summer is officially here, businesses are open again, and people are hitting the road in their cars. That’s exciting news, as it means more jobs for towing businesses. But, that also means more risks and more opportunities for operators to be injured while out on the road. Listen to this episode to learn about how improved safety techniques and innovative technologies can give you and your operators the upper hand on the road to keep you safe from unexpected dangers, risks, and walk away with several safety tips against false damage claims. Listen now!

    To purchase the HAAS Alert Digital Safety Cloud visit www.haasalert.com and use discount code: HONK2021.

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com


  • Who’s getting ready for summer? Who’s tired of this global pandemic? Who’s living their best life? Their best TOW life that is! Listen in to this month’s Get Hooked podcast to hear from a few top HONK Partners as they share their journeys of surviving the towing industry in the middle of an unexpected pandemic, how through incredible odds they take their businesses to new heights and they give us a peek at what it’s like living life in the towing fast lane.

    You’ll hear from HONK Partners, Jason Linnet, Owner and Operator of Glenpool Wrecker LLC, and Bassam Naami, Owner and Operator of Bassam Auto Towing, and his right-hand woman and Office Manager, Shelli Naami. Your two favorite hosts, Dennis and Y’von also show extra special gratitude to the HONK Partner Network. HONK appreciates all tow truck professionals for the tireless work they do assisting customers on the side of the road 24/7. This nation would be lost without them - and they didn’t stop during the pandemic. We are humbled many have chosen to work with HONK and we are truly grateful.

    With summer quickly approaching, we’re getting fired-up for summer job volume. Reports estimate more people traveling over the summer, so that means an increase in towing and roadside assistance calls. And last but not least, be sure to stay tuned towards the end of the podcast to hear from a special celebrity guest (hint, hint- he’s a top Nascar Driver) who gives a big shout-out to our HONK Partner Network.

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com



  • In honor of Women’s History Month, HONK’s Get Hooked podcast is dedicated to some of the tow industry’s most unsung heroes - the women in towing. To celebrate their hard work and amazing contributions our hosts, Y’von and Dennis bring on Karrie Fogg, Vice President of Fred’s Towing and Transport in Henderson, NC; Melisa Gaglione, President of Safety4her in Milwaukee, WI; and Ricky Tapp, Business Owner of Central Iowa Towing in Ames & Des Moines, IA.

    Listen to this impactful conversation as these fierce and fantastic leaders highlight the complexities of managing tow business operations, tips for managing employee relations and personalities, how and why to rely on tech, and how innovative ideas pioneered by women have led to advancements within the towing industry. We also discuss the importance of supporting diversity within the industry, what it will take to expand women’s roles in leadership, and what the future of the towing industry looks like.

    Tune in to this inspirational episode and hear the stories of these amazing entrepreneurs!

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com



  • Welcome back to season 2 of HONK’S Get Hooked podcast! This season your hosts Dennis McGowan and Y'von St. Cyr are back with more thought-provoking and intriguing new topics, insights from top industry influencers, reviews of new equipment on the market, discussions with HONK clients, and so much more! But first, we believe nothing is more important to talk about than your health. So this episode is dedicated to “HONK for Health”, a roundtable discussion with three medical experts all about tow operator health.

    This podcast will provide professional health recommendations, facilitate conversations, highlight valuable insights on health, nutrition, common hazards on the job, and ways to increase your overall health. Medical experts Dr. John Schwerdt of Cappa Podiatry; Ashley Smith, APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) from Priority Health Group; and Jeffrey Mast of Jeffrey Mast Insurance Services discuss common physical ailments tow professionals experience on the job, ways to recognize warning signs and symptoms, medical insurance advice on when and how to get insurance coverage, and why it's so important to have.

    Tune in for health tips and tricks, nutritional ideas for on-the-go eating, quick “side of the truck” physical fitness exercises, and even a few de-stress resources for mental health relief. You don’t want to miss this informational-packed episode, HONK for Health, and check out the resources below!

    >> Truck Driver Workouts (video)
    >> Easy, Simple and Quick Truck Driver Exercises
    >> 101 Healthy Hacks for Road Warriors
    >> How to Eat Healthy On The Road (Meals & Snacks for Truckers)
    >> How to Find Your Calm
    >> Tow Times January 2021 Edition - For Your Health (sponsored by HONK) page 13

    Be sure to subscribe and download the episode now!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK partner, you can sign up for free today at www.joinhonk.com

  • Season one finale of the Get Hooked podcast has arrived! Your hosts Dennis and Y’von recap the 2020 episodes, discuss the future of tow shows, key trends impacting the towing industry, welcome a very special guest, and announce a promotional giveaway, #HappyHONKdays that offers you 5 ways to win 30 exciting prizes, just for listening to the podcast.

    In this episode, special guest Corey Brundage, CEO & Founder of HONK joins the show and gives a first-hand account of the event that would eventually spark his vision and creation of HONK. He gives us the inside track on why HONK is the future of technology in the tow industry, what lessons HONK has learned over the years, how HONK has adapted and thrived through the COVID-19 pandemic, and what’s on the horizon for HONK and its new partnerships in 2021. Corey also shares his own war story about a chance meeting at the 2016 Baltimore tow show that would impact the future of HONK. Trust us, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

    To show our sincere gratitude to all Get Hooked listeners and HONK Partners we kicked off the #HappyHONKdays giveaway during this season finale episode. That’s right, we’re giving away cash prizes, that's free money, up to $200, HONK gear, and even donations to the Survivor’s Fund in your name. Don’t miss out on your chance to win, submit your entries now! Visit www.joinhonk.com/happyhonkdays to find out all the details and how to participate. Deadline to enter has been extended to January 10, 2021. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2021.

    Thanks for listening to Season 1, we can’t wait for Season 2 in 2021. Here’s to wishing you and your family a Happy Holidays!

    For more information and updates about HONK be sure to follow us at facebook.com/honk4help and on Instagram @honkforhelp. If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, visit www.joinhonk.com and sign up for free today!

    Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to receive a notification when the new season of Get Hooked drops!



  • This episode of the Get Hooked podcast is all about technology and towing in the digital era. Tow business owners will hear valuable insights and gain access to resources for digital transformation success in the towing industry. Special guest, Steaven Rojas, Sr. Director of Product Management at HONK joins the podcast crew to discuss how and why tow owners and operators should give their businesses the digital boost it needs and why it’s so important.

    In this episode, your hosts Y’von and Dennis highlight several thriving towing companies and talk about how they’ve become “Leaders of the Pack” following the digital overhaul of their businesses. You’ll also learn how technology enhances towing business operations, customer service, and revenue to help businesses succeed. HONK is transforming the tow industry to meet the demands of the digital future where insurance customers desire immediate assistance at their fingertips with real-time service updates right from their smartphones - the swift Amazon and Uber-like customer experiences.

    We also debunk common misconceptions about using technology like the HONK Partner App and why successful companies use it as an additional revenue stream for their business. This is one discussion you won’t want to miss out on!

    Download the episode now and be sure to grab a copy of the 5 Tips For Digital Transformation Success In The Towing Industry, a free resource guide to help get started with transforming your tow business.

    For more information and updates about HONK be sure to follow us at facebook.com/honk4help and on Instagram @honkforhelp. If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, visit www.joinhonk.com and sign up for free today!

    Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to receive notifications for upcoming episodes!



  • Get Hooked podcast episode 7 is here and this time around we are talking about all things Slow Down, Move Over. In this episode, we welcome back special guest, Angela Roper Barnett, a 24-year towing industry leader and Executive Director of four state tow associations, AZ, GA, TN, and UT to talk about #MoveOver Day, the importance of nationwide Move Over laws, and how to get involved in local events. Together we also discuss why every 6 days a tow truck operator is killed and what measures can be taken to stop these preventable deaths. We break down Move Over laws, general public awareness among motorists of these laws, and what the towing industry is doing to increase that awareness and make roads safer for tow operators.

    Tune in to get more information on National #MoveOver Day on October 17th, 2020, the numerous tow truck parades, local events being held across the nation, and the ways you can get involved.

    At HONK, we’re doing our part to help raise awareness of nationwide "Move Over" laws in an effort to further protect the safety of tow truck professionals and other emergency first responders. We’ve put together a public service announcement (PSA) we want to share with all motorists. Do your part and help us spread the word - share this video on all your socials. PSA can be found here: www.joinhonk.com/moveover

    For First Responder Safety Guidelines - contact Angela Roper Barnett via email at: [email protected]

    For more information and updates about HONK be sure to follow us at facebook.com/honk4help and on Instagram @honkforhelp. If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, visit www.joinhonk.com and sign up for free today!

    Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to receive notifications for upcoming episodes!





  • Tune in to Episode 6 of HONK’s Get Hooked podcast as we sit down with a few of the towing industry’s biggest advocates and influencers. Shelli Hawkins, 11-year towing industry veteran and Associate Product Manager at HONK, and Rene Jimenez, a 19-year tow truck operator and industry veteran who now serves as Technical Marketing Advisor at Zips/AW Direct talk about the past, present, and future of towing alongside our hosts, Dennis McGowan, a 15-year, 2nd generation tower and HONK’s Towing and Roadside Operations Manager, and Y’von St. Cyr, HONK’s Marketplace Marketing Manager and towing and roadside expert consumer.

    As industry insiders, the four share their unique perspectives of what makes the towing industry unlike any other and how it has changed their lives tremendously. With almost 50 years of combined experience, you’ll gain insights into the history of the towing industry, what’s changed so drastically over the century, and hear some sage advice and recommendations for tow owners and operators looking to take their businesses to the next level.

    From the foundation of a heartfelt desire to help our towing families and communities at the center of this industry, you’ll like listening to this episode. Listen now, you don’t want to miss this episode!

    For more information and updates about HONK be sure to follow us at facebook.com/honk4help and on Instagram @honkforhelp. If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, visit www.joinhonk.com and sign up for free today!

    Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to receive notifications for upcoming episodes!



  • We’re talking all about commercial insurance! We know that tow truck insurance rates are out of control and finding the right coverage and plan is getting harder and more complicated – it’s the number one pain point for many tow business owners today.

    In this Get Hooked episode, the HONK hosts help tow business owners learn how to identify and pick the right plans, understand what underwriters look at when rating their level of risk, how to ask for the best possible insurance discounts, as well as get a sneak peek into the future of insurance technology – specifically how telematics and other tools designed to monitor driving behavior and automobile safety can assist in keeping insurance costs down.

    Special guests include Chad Nitschke, co-founder & CEO of Bunker, a venture-backed insurance technology platform focused on simplifying the purchase of commercial insurance, along with taking the headache out of ensuring that businesses are compliant with their marketplace partners.

    And we’ll also hear from Andrea Hall, Director of Marketplace Operations, at HONK and resident insurance expert who provides her perspective on the value of insurance, why it’s needed to protect your business, and why HONK asks each Service Provider Partner for their certificate of insurance prior to onboarding onto our network.

    Be sure to download this episode now and subscribe to be automatically notified when new episodes are released.

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Service Provider Partner, you can signup for free today!

  • In this episode of Get Hooked, we talk about the future of the towing industry and what the “New Normal” looks like now and post COVID-19. Tow owners need to look for new ways to survive, and why creating a tech-forward business is key to not only surviving but thriving.

    Special guest, Angela Roper, a 25-year industry leader and Executive Director of four state tow associations, AZ, GA, TN, & UT, and former tow business owner, joins the podcast to provide her valuable insights and guidance for tow professionals on how to continue to grow their businesses, even during this unprecedented time. Now's the time to rely on technology, perform routine maintenance, deliver safety training, stay in constant contact with employees, and look for "filler work" in the downtime. Angela is a passionate activist for the Slow Down Move Over laws movement and the creator of National Move Over Day. She has spent the last 5+ years working with towing communities and associations all over the nation to expand awareness about Move Over laws and to gather support to decrease the number of preventable deaths among tow operators.

    Be sure to subscribe and download, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

    If you are interested in becoming a HONK Partner, you can signup for free today!

  • On this podcast episode of Get Hooked, we get right to the heart of what it takes to keep tow truck operators safe in and out of the truck. As June is National Safety Month, this episode is all about understanding the dangers of the towing industry and what we can do to increase safety training and educate the general public about Move Over laws. Listen in as hosts Dennis and Y'von discuss safety trends, standards, and new practices due to the COVID-19 virus.

    Our first guest is Alex Shopen, a 10+ year veteran of the towing and owner A.S.A.P Towing and Recovery based in Vancouver, WA. Alex talks with us about the dangers of highway jobs, the newly added pressure of providing new safety protocols for his operators all while maintaining superb customer service during COVID-19.

    We then talk to Melissa Gaglione, Founder and President of Safety4Her clothing. She shares her knowledge of what it takes to break the mold for women in the towing industry and how and why she creates highly visible, durable, and comfortable safety gear for women in hazardous workplaces.

    We close the episode with an exclusive offer from our Partner, Spiffy for EPA-approved, hospital-grade disinfectant solutions to sanitize tow trucks with 99.999% effectiveness without causing harm to people or vehicles.

  • WreckMaster President, Justin Cruse, sits down with us to discuss the 411 on training and certifications in the towing and roadside industry.

    In our discussion, we go into detail about the impact and benefits certified training has on towing businesses, the history and trajectory of training industry-wide, and what minimum levels of compliance the industry should consider for tow operators and owners.

    We also ask and answer the hard questions on what it takes to establish industry training and certification standards that will further strengthen skills, reduce damage claims, help tow businesses succeed, and continue to move this industry forward.

    Don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out on future episodes where we'll speak with leaders from across the industry.

  • From industry and business experts to tow company owners and operators. You name it, we'll have them on the show. Subscribe to our channel below and you'll get updates when a new episode is uploaded to our channel!

    www.honkforhelp.com

  • With over 35+ years of experience in the towing and roadside industry Quinn Piening is one of the industry's leading experts.

    President of the California Tow Truck Association, Quinn sits down to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the towing community. In our half-hour discussion Quinn goes into detail about the available resources small businesses have at their disposal and how company owners can protect themselves, their operators and their businesses during this time.

    And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out on future episodes of the Get Hooked podcast.

    www.honkforhelp.com