The Tow Trend Podcast

No two towing and recovery businesses are the same. Each one is uniquely molded by the people who build them. These owners and operators build their own personalities, past experiences, and passions right into the foundation of their operations.

In episode 9 of The Tow Trend Podcast, we spend time with two such towing business leaders – Clayton Elmore and Drake Chambers. Join podcast hosts Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins as they learn what it has taken to grow Waco & Texas Towing into a thriving operation.

In this lively conversation, our guests share: 

• Lessons in leadership 

• Towing technology that’s made a difference 

• Recovery work stories 

• Team building advice 

• Towing business risk management tips 

• Their perspective on sustainably building and growing a towing business 

Listen now and enjoy!

Consolidation continues to transform the towing and recovery industry, and causing many operators ask questions like: What is my business worth? What does the sale process actually look like? What should I be doing today to prepare for the future? 

Join The Tow Trend Podcast crew Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins as they hand mics to special guests Michael Lampert and Ben Gains from New England Truck Center (NETC) to explore answers to these and other merger and acquisition (M&A) related questions.

In this episode you'll hear real acquisition stories and gain our guests' perspective on why towing and recovery companies are being acquired at an increasing rate. Then the gang transitions to sharing practical advice and insights on:

• What M&A terms like EBITDA, Valuation, and Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) actually mean

• What the M&A process is like

• Steps you can take today to improve your company's future value

• What PE, investors, and large companies look for in potential acquisition opportunities

• Pitfalls and red flags that can derail a sale 

• And more

This episode delivers practical guidance that can help you strengthen business practices – whether you plan to sell or remain independent.

Listen now and enjoy! 

What does poor safety really cost a towing company? 

To answer this question in episode 7 of The Tow Trend Podcast, hosts Shelli Hawkins and Dennis McGowan sit down with Bill Giorgis of Mike's Wrecker Service and Brian Riker of Fleet Compliance Solutions. These industry experts help us unpack one of the most important topics in the towing industry: safety. 

Drawing from their Tow Summit presentation, The Cost of a Poor Safety Philosophy, Bill and Brian share how safety isn't just about compliance. Instead, it should be a broader program that, if effectively achieved, protects profitability, reduces risk, helps attract and retain good employees, preserves customer trust, and builds a stronger business. 

Episode Highlights Cover: 

• Brian’s meaningful quote about the job of towing professionals 

• Bill’s favorite metaphor regarding safety and training 

• Hidden costs of poor safety practices 

• The most dangerous words in the towing industry 

• The business impacts of negative PR  

• Hiring and qualification challenges  

• Safety culture and safety policy – one in the same? 

• And more 

Whether you're an owner, manager, tow operator, or industry enthusiast, this episode delivers practical guidance that can help you reduce exposure, improve accountability, and build a more defensible towing operation. 

Listen now and learn how the right safety philosophy can protect your people, your reputation, and your bottom line.

Prepare yourself — episode 6 of The Tow Trend Podcast pulls at the heartstrings. Our hosts Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins share the mic with Cindy Iodice, founder of Flagman Inc. Her organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing struck-by-vehicle fatalities through national Slow Down, Move Over education.

Cindy’s not just passionate about this initiative because it’s important — she graciously shares her personal connection to Slow Down, Move Over awareness beginning with her deep family roots in the towing industry and a tragic loss that drives her mission forward.

You’ll Hear:

• Corey’s story
• All about Flagman, the unique, early education program Cindy started
• Tips on how to turn kids into roadside safety ambassadors
• What it’s like as a passenger when Dennis takes the wheel (😮)
• An open discussion where Shelli, Dennis, and Cindy share their own experiences dealing with grief over needless loss of struck-by victims
• Sobering numbers and stats highlighting why roadside safety awareness is more important than ever
• What Cindy, Shelli, and Dennis challenge every driver to do — right now

This episode wraps up with a final, heartfelt message to everyone — relevant and deeply important whether you’re working in or a customer of the towing industry. Tune in, listen up, and walk away knowing exactly what you can do to help protect roadside workers.

Learn more at FlagmanSafety.com.

In episode 5 of The Tow Trend Podcast our hosts Shelli Hawkins and Dennis McGowan bask in the warmth and wisdom radiating from a towing, recovery, and podcast legend Jeff Poquette –former co-producer and co-star of the beloved Tow Business Podcast.

In this lively conversation, they talk podcasting shop, share stories from the field, and dig into where towing is headed next. While Jeff’s podcasting talent and advice is certainly highlighted, Dennis and Shelli also coax from him insightful nuggets for audience members on practical towing industry use cases for AI, the transition from inside the truck to inside the business of towing, and what future technology may be next on our industry’s horizon.

Tune in for: 

• The inspiration for the Tow Business podcast

• Jeff’s podcasting progression – from kitchen-mounted boom-arm to in-home recording studio

• 💡Jeff’s 5 rules on successful podcasting:

  Pre-set schedule breaks👉 this keeps content fresh and interesting vs. forced

  Prioritize sound quality 👉 record in a closet or a carpeted room

  Don’t try to do too much 👉 keep it fun and relevant

  Minimize editing 👉 simplicity and authenticity wins

  Ask your peers 👉 share a proof-of-concept recording and ask for honest feedback

• 🚩 SPOILER ALERT: Jeff shares details about his new towing industry podcast – coming soon!

• An introduction to Jeff’s alter ego 👤

Whether you’re on the road, in the office, or somewhere in between, crank up the volume and enjoy real talk, practical insight, and a whole lot of towing‑community love. 

Learn more: https://autura.com

Welcome to episode four of The Tow Trend Podcast! 

Hosts Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins are joined by Konner Kelly of Unlimited Recovery & Integrity Towing Solutions and Kevin Leigh, VP of Autura Marketplace. Together, the gang discuss real-world challenges of running a compliant, efficient, and profitable impound or unclaimed vehicle operation.

With decades of combined experience across towing, impound, vehicle disposition, and auction operations, Konner and Kevin share practical insights every lot manager should hear.

What You’ll Get:

• What data to use for better impound lot forecasting

• Legal requirement and compliance insights

• What Konner does on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis 

• Game-changing tip (SPOILER ALERT! It has to do with stickers)

• 👻Phantom vehicle stories

• Tow company and impound stigma and advice on handling upset customers. 💡Tip: don’t give this task to Dennis!

• Retention strategies Konner uses to hire and hold onto quality team members

Whether you run a large impound facility, manage unclaimed vehicle lots, or just want a clearer picture of how this side of the business works, this episode is packed with real talk, operational advice, and stories from the field.

Learn more: https://autura.com

In episode three of The Tow Trend Podcast, Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins host Mike Porter, founder of TDR Way — a leading dispatch training program — to share insights on how dispatch strategy can make or break towing business success. How should you think about dispatch and customer service? What role does (and should) technology play? What’s one change you can make today to enhance your dispatching approach. Hit play to find out! 

What You’ll Get: 

• A mind shift to change how you think about dispatch and customer service 

• What 3 questions you should be asking your dispatchers every day 

• A million-dollar takeaway you can use today  
  (Short on time? Jump to the 11:30 minute mark in the podcast!) 

• Science-backed ways to help dispatchers manage stress 

And, Mike and our hosts gaze into their crystal ball and share what the future of dispatch might look like 

Tune in for insights, stories, predictions, and hot takes from towing and recovery experts, educators, influencers, and community members from America's most essential industry. 

Learn more: https://autura.com 

In episode two of The Tow Trend Podcast, our hosts, Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins, chat with towing industry experts and special guests Shane Coleman (ERSCA) and Bear Godfrey (WreckMaster), for a dynamic discussion on the evolving importance of safety and training.

Catching these four busy professionals for a sit-down conversation wasn’t easy, but we’ve seized the opportunity to capture their perspectives on one of the industry’s hottest topics.

With Shelli’s sharp wit and Dennis’ signature broadcaster voice guiding the conversation, our hosts draw out juicy nuggets of insight about what a strong safety culture looks like, overlooked safety blind spots, and more.

What You'll Get:

• Changes in training over the last 30 years
• The difference between how trained vs. untrained operators handle towing and recovery situations
• Common, avoidable training mistakes
• The one action every owner should take right now
• 🍕Everyone’s favorite pizza chain

Enjoy this rare opportunity to “not just listen, but listen to understand” how towers, fleet managers, and other industry experts can benefit from making training and safety a priority for America’s most essential industry.

Resources: ERSCAtraining.org | WreckMaster.com | Autura.com

Finally, a towing podcast by people who've actually run the trucks, built the tech, and lived in the trenches! Hosts Shelli Hawkins and Dennis McGowan bring decades of street-level experience and insider knowledge to launch The Tow Trend Podcast.

Dennis shares wild stories from his days running 70+ trucks in NYC (including his first call - a car crashed INSIDE a laundromat), while Shelli reveals how she became the industry's secret weapon for implementing game-changing technology.

But this isn't just war stories. They're breaking down Autura's explosive State of Towing Report: 72% of towers are jacking up prices in 2025. Insurance costs are crushing operators. Good employees are impossible to find and even harder to keep.

What You'll Get:

• Raw industry intel from the front lines
• Proven strategies to combat rising costs
• Why losing cheap customers makes you money
• Insider preview of upcoming industry webinars

For towers, fleet managers, and anyone who wants the real story behind America's most essential industry.

Learn more: https://autura.com