My first Florida tow show
By Richard Wolfe
I guess the first impression was pretty good. I had a handheld radio and as I pulled into the hotel complex, all I saw were tow trucks for a long ways down the row, and that was on Thursday evening. According to the boss, I was talking about the amount of trucks what were there. I was delivering a truck for a display and I thought I had died and gone to tow truck heaven. Everywhere I looked, I saw tow trucks, light duty and heavy duty tow trucks. And that was in only one of the three huge parking areas.
Now I have been to tow shows, at least I thought they were a tow show (no offense to the Oregon and Washington associations), but this was huge. I had always dreamed of attending the Florida tow show, and I had finally made it.
Ten years and two moves to get there, but I had finally made it to the big one. On Friday morning I woke up and decided to walk the mile to the show. I made it to the display area in time to help clean up the display truck I had brought down. After that was done, I was able to take time to cruise the areas and look at the trucks on display.
I quickly realized that if I was to take a picture of the trucks that interested me, I would need to get more film than the seven rolls I’d brought with me.
I got the chance to see new equipment and trucks, and some demonstrations of trucks and equipment. Some of the demos were very impressive. It was very interesting to see the abilities of the heavy duty trucks, which drew great crowds. This was all outside; inside was to come later. I stopped in on a few seminars to visit with friends and former instructors. I just wish I had enough time to actually attend the full seminars. It was great to see Ross Kinman again. It had been almost 15 years since the last class of his I attended. He is still a wonderful instructor, and the stories are still great.
I checked out the inside displays of equipment and products. Computers, lockout tools, tracking systems, accessories for trucks, financing and leasing companies, heck, you had it all there. Nearly all the auto clubs had representatives on site to discuss problems and see if there were ways to correct the problems.
Oh yeah, another thing about the tow show is the ability to network with other towers from different areas, even countries. I got to meet a few of the towers I talk to on ICQ, and in other forums that are out there on the computer. Don and Sharon are two that I will remember, but I know I meet many more people.
I had a chance to meet with people from Australia and England. It is amazing to hear we have the same problems here as they have in their countries. Drivers, motor clubs, insurance, all seem to be the same everywhere.
Speaking of networking, I also had the chance to meet some of the industry leaders I have talked to over the phone at times, or read information from them. Bill Jackson was fantastic to talk to about the issues of the day, and to hear his stories. Oh yeah, the pictures in his display were great. Mark Anderson was another wonderful source of information to talk with. Lots of pictures were also on display at his booth.
It was also nice to see a few people from my days in Oregon. Gary and Donna Coe were busy doing the seminars. Jerry Bullock was there with the Friends of Towing Museum display.
Dinner on Friday night was great, and the entertainment went on into the early hours of the morning. It seems that we do know how to have fun.
Saturday found me checking out the seminars again, and after a while I got to go back though the inside. I decided to spend some time in the Phootnotes booth talking to the readers, yes, you people, about what you would like to see in the paper. I came away with some good comments about the magazine. It seems that we have the best towing publication out there. Now that is what I was told by many different people. Makes us proud to hear that we are doing our job and the articles are what make the publication must-read material for the readers.
I also got time to go with Publisher Shirley to introduce her to some of the people in the industry so that she gets a better idea of the job she has to do.
She is supporting this publication fully and has great plans for the future of the magazine. It was a pleasure to find out some of the things that she has planned for you, the reader.
All in all, you should take time to attend the Florida show; it is an eye-opening trip, and a great time. I am looking forward to the next show I can attend. Until then, keep on your tows.
(article reprinted with permission of Towing and recovery Phootnotes magazine. Page 25 of the June 2001 issue)
