OKLAHOMA WRECKER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
300 SW 29TH
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109-6793
(405) 319-1724
First Quarter, 2003
DEAR FELLOW WRECKER OWNERS:
The Legislative session is getting ready to take off. We met with the legislative staff to suggest wording for our new bills. The first objective we will attempt is to remove the out of state designation for a licensed wrecker on rotation. I will keep the membership informed of the Legislative session as it progresses. The DPS is also planning an Administrative Rules meeting near the end of March. If you are concerned you may wish to contact the DPS to be listed on the Administrative Rules Meeting list. These are the rules wrecker owners must conform to and operate by when they are adopted. This is an important event. I will do my best to keep the membership informed of the proposed rule changes as they become available.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission is also making some rule changes. If you perform title 42s and haven't heard of the changes, you will soon. Most won't affect wrecker owners. But wouldn't it be nice to be able to get a group of like minded individuals together and approach the OTC/MVD with our version of rules to help us. That is the benefit that sticking together and working towards a common goal can achieve. It can and does work every day in America and Oklahoma.
HEAVY DUTY TOWING AND RECOVERY SCHOOL
May 2nd & 3rd - Oklahoma City - OKC Police & Fire Training Center
I mentioned the school in our last newsletter. One of the very first calls I received about the school was from Tommy Burrows of Liberal Radiator and Wrecker Service in Turpin, Oklahoma (Panhandle). Tommy and his son (Vance) attended the last school and both passed the Level 2 TRAA Certification test (which has helped Tommy gain a few commercial accounts). Tommy wanted to be sure he had a spot reserved for the next class. Remember, he attended the last class.
It seems Tommy and his son received a call to clear a two lane highway (what else would you expect in the Panhandle) of a two truck head-on-collision. One truck blocked the bridge in pieces (meaning you couldn't drive around it) and the other ended up in the ditch/creek on its side, but the trailer was in one piece. Both truck drivers died. Tommy started to work getting the pieces of the bridge truck loaded. His son took on the task of the truck on its side in the ditch. He informed Tommy that he would use what he learned in Towing & Recovery Class. Vance Burrows proceeded to perform a “backwards” roll (aka reverse roll) and set the truck up from one side only in just a few minutes. The Trooper stood there watching with his mouth open in amazement. He thought he would be there a lot longer than what it took to perform this task. Not only that, there wasn't any danger of injury to anyone nearby and the equipment wasn't abused. The insurance company was tickled pink with the fees and Liberal Radiator and Wrecker Service boosted their “word of mouth” worth by a bunch. What a success story. Tommy said the fees he paid for both to attend the T&R Class were paid for in full at that one recovery. That's why he wants back in this time also. It will be even more detailed for heavy duty.
Tom Luciano is the instructor again. Last time we covered light duty and heavy duty and Tommy felt that a single heavy duty school would be a better approach. There were many things and circumstances that he felt he wanted to address but there just wasn't time enough. Everyone that attended the school enjoyed it and learned many things. Again we offer a full un-conditional refund to any wrecker owner that doesn't feel they got their money's worth from the school. This is a hands on, “no holds barred”, training. There is more to this than class room. You will see and learn things that you never even thought of trying. It will not only make your job easier, it will make it safer. You also won't abuse your equipment.
The fees are $350.00 for non-members ($250 for members) with a non-refundable deposit of $100.00 which will hold your spot. At the door the day of the school the fees will be $400.00 per head for non-members ($300 for members). The second person (or more) from the same towing business will get a $100.00 per head discount ($100.00 deposit required for savings). If you attend the school and don't think you got your money's worth, simply ask for your refund in writing and we will refund the entire fee you paid. But you must attend the school to get the deposit back. There will be valuable door prizes and lunch will be served at the school. An application should be in this newsletter, if not, contact the OWOA for a copy.
INTERESTED IN HEALTH INSURANCE?
I received a call from an insurance provider firm that specializes in insurance for associations. I mentioned that several members had requested plans but I was unable to find anyone that provided real health insurance. There are those plans that pay direct to the insured like AFLAC and there are those Pre-Paid Legal plans that give a discount if the doctor is on the list. But this is real honest-to-God insurance. A representative will attend our March Meeting in Oklahoma City. Sorry to be back in OKC but that's where this company is located. I don't have a lot of information yet, but if you want to check out health insurance, be at the March meeting. This company also handles other types of insurance but not vehicle insurance. We can get the information and they will need a head count with ages and other data so we can determine our “pool” and that is what determines the price. The more young people we have, the cheaper the insurance premium for all. Bring your numbers and questions to the OKC meeting on the second Tuesday of March. The exact place will be announced. If you don't get the newsletter, check the web site or call the OWOA number. You must be a member to participate in the coverage.
LAST MEETING
Our last meeting was in Tulsa. We covered the wording for our bill and got ideas from the membership as to what we needed to cover in the law. We also had a representative from the Indian Nations Central Oklahoma Government association (INCOG). This is an association of law enforcement, safety, fire and other emergency workers to try to plan and set up procedures for emergency incidents. INCOG was requesting our support for a bill they plan to introduce to provide relief and limit liability to emergency workers during the resolution of incidents. This could help wrecker owners also. We haven't seen the final wording of the bill but the consensus was to support it.
NEXT MEETING - February 11th - Weatherford, OK
The next meeting will be in Weatherford, Oklahoma on the second Tuesday of February. The date will be February 11th. The meeting will start at 8:00 PM. The meal will start around 7:00 PM if you want to eat there. Marcus Hall from Oklahoma Wrecker Sales in OKC set up the meeting at Mark Restaurant in Weatherford, Oklahoma. It is located at 601 E Main. Marcus says to take the second Weatherford exit (when traveling westbound) and follow Main Street West. Mark Restaurant will be on the North side of the street. We will again discuss our legislative agenda and I will bring copies of the DPS proposed rule changes for consideration. If you have concerns or questions, be sure to be there.
You as a non-member are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. No one will embarrass you or try to belittle you. We are trying to work together for the good of our industry. We are striving to make sure we can pay our consultants that work hard for us and give us advice as to how to approach the legislators with our ideas to improve our industry. If you are new to this industry you may not realize how things were in the past before this association decided to control its destiny. We are trying to show a united front to help our industry pass and get the things we need for our success.
If you have an idea or concern, please bring it to the meeting. I promise you, you will not be the only one with that concern. It doesn't matter if its rotation, insurance dumping, insurance premiums, insurance adjusters, title 42s, or what ever - someone at the meeting or in this association has experienced or has resolved your problem/question/concern. We don't meet together to fight, we meet together to resolve our problems. It is true for America and it is true for wrecker owners, “united we stand, divided we fall”. Don't cut prices or spread false rumors about your competitors; they are your best friend. If it wasn't for your competitor, you would become lazy and non-responsive to your customer's needs. With your competitor, you will make sure you stay sharp and on top of everything. This isn't an adversarial relationship, its America at its best. We are capitalist, we are entrepreneurs (risk takers), and we are small business owners in America. We are not only the backbone of America, we are America! Without us, America dies. Please consider joining us to improve our industry. There is an application in this newsletter. Please use it. You may make payments of any amount you choose as long as they are paid in 12 months. If you have one wrecker the price for 12 months will be $13.34 per month. If you can't afford that, you should consider another business.