The first snowstorm of the season didn’t just test trucks—it tested systems. We sat down with Justin Thomas, operations manager at Lazer Tow in Kansas City and part of the Cardinal Legacy Towing Group, to unpack how teams managed ETAs when hills iced over, why side streets often beat clogged interstates, and what happens when real-world experience meets structured training. From the cab to the classroom, Justin brings a rare mix of heavy haul, RGN, and rail-sector instruction to show how safer methods and sharper decisions keep people and revenue protected.

We dig into the October training series that combined EV and alternative-fuel response, a one-day light-duty course, and a two-day heavy recovery program—scheduled to respect operators’ weekends and, yes, a Chiefs game. The surprise highlight: competitors sharing a room, swapping numbers, and leaving with common safety standards. With strong hosting by Lazer and local sponsor support, the classes turned into a blueprint for market-wide collaboration. Justin explains what stuck, from practical rigging choices to better traffic control, and how those changes speed up scenes without cutting corners.

Looking ahead, we spotlight a new three-hour leadership class aimed at frontline leads and managers who set culture on the lot and on the white line. Pairing leadership skills with updated EV protocols and field-proven heavy recovery techniques creates a balanced playbook: communicate clearly, plan smart, execute safely. We also talk instructor bench strength—why having trainers who still work real jobs keeps lessons current and honest. If you care about reducing risk, improving retention, and getting home safe, this conversation gives you next steps you can put to work tomorrow.

Subscribe, share this with a shop owner or operator who needs a lift, and drop a review to help more pros find the show. Got a guest idea or want to host a class? Call 706-409-5603 and let’s build the standard together.

A single dinner turned into a platform that now reaches more than 20,000 listeners—and the story behind it is packed with grit, heart, and field-tested lessons. We sit down with our friend and mentor, DJ Harrington—the Tow Doctor—to unpack how a path that once pointed toward the priesthood led through retail grind, Uniroyal hustle, and a world-class speaking career that has influenced the towing industry across continents. DJ’s stories are kinetic and practical: converting competitors into partners, reviving a legacy tire brand with creative branding, and transforming product “problems” into service bay traffic and loyal customers.

The conversation moves from business tactics to the deeper why. DJ shares a family table moment that changed how he saw leadership—numbers as families, decisions as futures. That perspective fuels everything we do at the American Towing and Recovery Institute and with the Cardinal Legacy Towing Group: train hard, teach safety, and build leaders who take care of their people. We also get real about health. DJ opens up about Guillain-Barré, CIDP, and the fight to adapt; Wes talks about Parkinson’s and the toughness it demands. The takeaway isn’t pity—it’s a playbook for resilience: processes and procedures, stacked with daily courage, protect teams in the field and at home.

You’ll hear how this show started, why we doubled down on great guests, and how live recordings at industry events turned our archive into a learning library. Expect stories from global stages, shout-outs to legends like Zig Ziglar and Lee Iacocca, and simple rules that help towers work smarter: prepare, pre-read, say yes to the moment, and convert every touchpoint into trust. If you care about safer recoveries, stronger businesses, and a community that shows up for each other, you’ll feel right at home here.

If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teammate who needs a lift today. Your support helps us bring more training, more voices, and more practical guidance to the people who keep the roads moving.

A lot of folks think towing only makes the news when something goes wrong. We set out to change that story. In this conversation with Jeff Bauer, president of Cardinal Legacy, we dig into how leadership, culture, and smart growth can rebuild trust and turn good teams into great ones. From learning alongside respected operators to honoring their legacies through acquisitions, Jeff maps out how a people‑first strategy scales better than any fleet list.

We get specific. Jeff shares the simple survey he uses to align roles with strengths, including the tale of a “bad fit” service writer who became a star in accounting once the work matched his wiring. We unpack temperaments, conflict resolution, and the difference between managing tasks and leading people. You’ll hear how principles from mentors like John Maxwell and Zig Ziglar translate into shop reality—clear expectations, practical language, and a structure that turns blind spots into leverage. The result isn’t theory: the team went from a $10M operation to north of $60M by pairing professionalism with consistent training.

We also preview our two‑day leadership retreat in Cape Coral, Florida, built for towing pros and any leader who wants to grow. Expect sessions on blind spots, communication, hiring for strengths, and real‑world conflict tools led by voices from towing, law enforcement, and nonprofit leadership. If you’ve felt stuck on hiring, onboarding, or culture, this is your playbook to reset the year with clarity and momentum.

Want in on the training wave? Check dates and details at CardinalLegacyTowing.com/events, and catch our free deep‑dives on the American Tow and Recovery Institute YouTube channel. If this conversation sparked a new idea, subscribe, share it with a teammate, and leave a review to tell us the next leadership challenge you want us to tackle.

Roads change, but a calling doesn’t. We sit down with Kevin Goodyear to trace a line from a 1960s Gulf station to a modern towing and recovery operation spanning Alabama, Florida, and Georgia—and we dig into the choice that sparked it all: a 19‑year‑old selling his car to buy a used wrecker. That decision opens the door to a bigger story about what towing really is: disciplined emergency response, safety-first operations, and the kind of training that turns heavy equipment into life‑saving tools.

Kevin unpacks the realities of running multi‑state terminals, from insurance pressures to environmental liability, and why captive insurance paired with strong safety practices can keep companies stable when premiums surge. We talk through a vivid rescue where two rotators, precise rigging, and steady coordination helped free a trapped driver—an example of how towing professionals partner with fire and EMS to secure scenes and protect lives. Along the way, we confront public perception and why Slow Down Move Over is just the start; the industry must keep showing up, training with first responders, and telling the truth about the work.

This conversation also looks ahead. Kevin shares how he’s bringing his daughter and son‑in‑law into the business with intention, using national peer groups, legislative exposure, and hands‑on learning to build a well‑rounded leadership bench. Training weekends become more than classes—they’re catalysts for better habits, broader perspectives, and a network that makes everyone sharper on Monday. If you care about towing, heavy recovery, incident management, or simply what it takes to build a resilient family business, you’ll find practical insight and a renewed respect for the professionals who keep roads safe.

Enjoyed the episode? Follow, share with a friend who works in public safety or logistics, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Your feedback moves the mission forward.

A memorial reads names, but a community carries the weight. We sit down with Jeffrey Godwin to explore how the International Towing and Recovery Museum turns remembrance into real support through the Wall of the Fallen and the Survivor Fund—and why hearing those names aloud changes how we see risk, service, and family. Jeffrey explains their careful process: contacting companies first to ease the burden on families, approving cases quickly so funds reach homes when they’re needed most, and building a peer network so owners and teams aren’t alone after a tragedy.

From there, we step inside the museum’s evolving home in Chattanooga. Recent grants refreshed the roof, HVAC, and the Hall of Fame flow, and a new remembrance room offers a quiet space to reflect. Yet the mission has outgrown a converted grocery store. Low ceilings limit modern displays, from carriers to rotators, and the team is pursuing a larger building to tell a fuller story of towing technology and culture. Until then, off-site storage and rotating exhibits will bring fresh vehicles and artifacts to the floor.

Growth runs through community. The annual fundraising auction fuels operations while welcoming new Hall of Fame inductees. Membership tiers make it easier to join and make a difference, and donations—financial or artifact—put history in front of the next generation. There’s even a hometown twist: the Chattanooga Lookouts’ Wreckers games amplify Slow Down, Move Over messaging and celebrate the city where the tow truck was born. With a new stadium opening, Wreckers weekend promises a bigger stage for safety education, museum events, and industry pride.

Help us preserve stories, support families, and expand what’s possible. Become a member, make a pledge to the Survivor Fund, plan a trip to Chattanooga, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

Ever wonder what it really takes to build an industry event that gives more than it takes? We sat down on the floor of the Tennessee Tow Show in Chattanooga with Brenda from Tow Times and Anthony from the Tennessee Tow Truck Association to unpack the moving parts, the purpose, and the payoffs you can’t see from a flyer. From an opening national anthem that shook the hall to a year-long planning cycle that starts the minute the lights go down, this is the story of a show built to lift towers, not just fill a hall.

We talk through the show’s “give back” DNA, why October dates matter for travel and weather, and how a true team effort—booth sales, banners, social, and on-site coordination—creates space for real training and real connections. Anthony shares the behind-the-scenes work of the association: funding a lobbyist, fighting for practical rules, and securing 13 amendments and nearly 19 revisions to a state motion act so towing companies can operate safely and profitably. That policy work ties directly to what happens on the floor: vendors demonstrating tech and tools, owners swapping pricing models and hiring tactics, and crews sharpening skills in light-duty, heavy-duty, rotator recovery and EV procedures.

We also dig into growth beyond the floor: the Towing and Recovery Management Summit, designed to help owners run their business instead of being run by it. Think leadership, finance, valuations, M&A timing, and smart tech like AI that can streamline billing, dispatch and communications. Along the way, you’ll hear personal paths—Brenda’s route from electroplating and barbering to event leadership, and Anthony’s journey from operations to association advocacy and music—that show how diverse skills make this industry stronger. If you want smarter training, better networking and a voice in the rules that shape your margins, this conversation is your map.

Want more like this? Follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a quick review so other towers can find us. Then mark your calendar for Chattanooga and the Denver Summit—see you there.

What if a single choice—choosing grace—could change the way we work the white line? We open with a raw reflection on public grief, forgiveness, and the quiet power of listening, then connect those values to the most practical lever we have: training that sticks under pressure. From youth engagement and more honest speech to concrete drills in brush-filled gravel pits, we explore how character and skill reinforce each other when the scene gets loud and the angles matter.

We welcome back owner-operator Michael Lard, who walks us through building an effective learning environment: partnering with a fire department for a professional classroom, then moving to field scenarios that mimic true recoveries—uneven ground, tall weeds, limited sightlines, and all. Michael explains why light-duty fundamentals scale to rotators and heavy-duty jobs, and why he often hires “green” talent to cultivate clean habits from day one. We get into the math beneath the muscle—rigging choices, load paths, and anchor strategies—while acknowledging the human side: humility beats bravado, and teachability can save a career.

There’s also a look at the ecosystem that makes operators better. Cross-training with fire teams tightens command handoffs and reduces chaos at scenes. Neighboring companies that cooperate during peak demand or holidays build resilience without sacrificing service. And yes—investing in classes and certifications for light, heavy, electric, and alternative-fuel vehicles pays off in fewer incidents, stronger retention, and a culture people want to join. We close with upcoming training dates and a reminder that your voice shapes this show: subscribe, share, and tell us who you want to hear next. If this conversation pushed you to rethink how you lead—or how you learn—drop a review and tag a teammate who should be in the next class.

What does it take to transform an entire industry through education? For Wes Wilburn, approaching his 1,000th towing and recovery training class, the answer lies in a philosophy borrowed from DJ Harrington C A N I – constant and never-ending improvement.

Since 1993, Wes has dedicated his life to elevating the towing profession through education that goes far beyond technical skills. As he shares his journey with hosts DJ Harrington and April Wilburn, we witness the evolution of an industry through the eyes of someone who has helped shape its modern practices. From the early days of basic recovery techniques to today's complex challenges with electric vehicles, Wes has adapted his teaching to ensure operators can safely handle whatever comes their way.

"My job in that classroom is not to tell people what to think," Wes explains. "My job is to give people things to think about they can take and apply in their own world." This approach has touched countless lives – many in ways that can never be measured. When operators apply proper techniques on dangerous roadways, they return home safely to their families, creating a ripple effect of positive impact.

The conversation also shines light on the industry's unsung heroes, particularly women leaders like Ruthie Landau and Gay Rochester who work tirelessly behind the scenes organizing events and fundraising. We learn about state associations that maintain injured drivers funds to support operators during times of need, highlighting the tight-knit community that defines this profession.

As Wes approaches his milestone 1,000th class, his mantra remains unchanged: "Develop from within so you never go without." Whether you're a seasoned recovery specialist or simply curious about the people who rescue you during roadside emergencies, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of an essential yet often overlooked industry. Subscribe now to join the over 20,000 listeners who make Towing News Now their trusted source for industry insights.

Discover the revolutionary approach that's transforming the towing industry as Megan Bruns, Marketing Director at Cardinal Legacy Towing Group, shares how putting people first has created an empire of 200+ vehicles and happy, committed employees.

The cornerstone of their success? Treating tow operators as the first responders they truly are. While many towing companies struggle with employee retention and satisfaction, Cardinal Legacy has implemented concrete, effective strategies that benefit everyone. By virtually eliminating on-call shifts, they've removed one of the industry's most challenging aspects, allowing drivers to maintain healthy work-life balance and plan family activities without interruption.

Every driver receives their own dedicated truck—a simple policy with profound effects on pride, maintenance, and operational efficiency. Clear career paths provide structured advancement from light duty to specialized recovery roles through comprehensive training programs. When consolidating with other towing operations, they maintain original company identities while enhancing employee benefits, preserving both business value and human connections.

"Teamwork makes the dream work" isn't just a catchphrase here; it's evident in their comprehensive benefits package, recognition programs, and community involvement. As Megan explains, drivers who might resist routine midnight calls will "throw their cape on" for significant incidents—enthusiasm that speaks volumes about their pride and ownership in their work.

The partnership between Cardinal Legacy and the American Towing Recovery Institute represents a shared vision for the industry's future: professional, people-centered, and progressive. For towing company owners seeking improved retention, operational excellence, and sustainable growth, this episode provides a masterclass in building an organization where both employees and customers thrive.

Ready to transform your towing operation? Listen now and discover how putting people first creates success for everyone involved.

Michael Lard brings a refreshing perspective to the towing industry as he shares his journey from growing up in a towing family to owning Tom's 24-Hour Towing in Elkhart, Indiana. This third-generation tower has transformed his operation into a 16-truck fleet equipped with specialized machinery for handling complex recoveries.

What truly stands out in our conversation is Michael's innovative approach to rigging techniques. Working collaboratively with industry experts, he's developed custom configurations using Omega links and container links that significantly improve safety margins while increasing efficiency. These creative solutions demonstrate how thoughtful engineering can transform standard recovery practices into something extraordinary.

Michael challenges one of the industry's most entrenched mindsets: "dad and grandpa did it this way." While respecting tradition, he makes a compelling case that continuous learning is essential as vehicle technology rapidly evolves. With modern vehicles featuring composite materials, aluminum components, and sophisticated electronics, yesterday's methods alone aren't enough for today's challenges. As Michael wisely puts it, "Old skills are good skills. They just should not be your only skills."

Perhaps most remarkable is Michael's commitment to community collaboration. Rather than viewing nearby companies solely as competitors, he regularly works with towers up to 50 miles away, sharing specialized equipment and expertise. This collaborative spirit extends to training events, where local companies contribute resources to support educational opportunities throughout the region. It's a powerful reminder that when towing professionals work together, everyone benefits.

Looking for training opportunities? Join us for the Light and Medium Duty class hosted by Michael in Elkhart on September 6-7, or check out our full schedule of specialized classes happening nationwide. Whether you're focused on electric vehicles, heavy recovery, or rotator operations, we have the training you need to excel in today's demanding environment. Call 910-747-9000 or visit amtowri.org to secure your spot and take your skills to the next level.