Get Hooked

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.

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.

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! 

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