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I n s i d e t h i s I s s u e

2014 TRPI Steering Committee Board Nomination Form 2

TRPI Move Over Campaign Receives Valuable Support 3

Successful TRPI Member Event Held at Hanifen’s in June 4

Elsberry Awarded 2013 TRPI Scholarship 6

Winching: Learn a Little … Learn a Bunch 7

Dates to Remember 8

HVUT Form 2290 Return Due by August 31 6

A d i v i s i o n o f t h e I o w a M o t o r

T r u c k A s s o c i a t i o n

Towing & Recovery Professionals of Iowa

717 East Court Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Phone: (515) 244-5193 Fax: (515) 244-2204

info@iowamotortruck.com www.iowatowingprofessionals.com

TRPI NEWSLETTER

Nominations Being Accepted for TRPI Board

TRPI members are needed to help raise awareness for Iowa’s towing industry and the Move Over, Slow Down Law at this year’s Iowa State Fair.

The Iowa Motor Truck Association will have a booth inside the Varied Industries Building during the fair, which runs August 8-18. While TRPI members are encouraged to volunteer on any of the 11 days, the IMTA is specifically making Saturday, August 10, TRPI’s day to promote its industry and activities.

Each day will be broken into two shifts — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. A minimum of four people are needed for each shift to ensure there are enough volunteers available to talk with people and hand out items.

Anyone interested in helping should contact DeAnn Moody at deann@iowamotortruck.com or (515) 244-5193. Please note when communi-cating with DeAnn that you are a TRPI member wanting to help on August 10 (or the day you are available if this day is not an option).

This is a very important phase in TRPI’s grassroots initiative to help spread the message about the importance of the Move Over, Slow Down Law to the towing industry. The Move Over Campaign is something TRPI is

emphasizing throughout the summer with the support of its members. Already, a handful of TRPI members have used events in their local areas to raise public awareness, including:

Hanifen Company: Contracted Von and Bonnie from WHO Radio to help advertise a public lunch in which campaign materials were distributed and monetary contributions were accepted.

Darrah’s: Press conference with local and state law enforcement, emergency responders and fellow TRPI members.

Darrah’s: Handed out car air fresheners and campaign postcards at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids.

Elmquist Towing Company: Handed out car air fresheners and postcards during the Fourth of July Parade in Ames, Iowa.

Listed above are just a few public awareness efforts made known to the TRPI office. Other TRPI members that have down something in their local communities to support the Move Over Campaign are asked to share details with TRPI staff. This information will be used to exhibit TRPI’s overall efforts to create safer working conditions on Iowa’s roadways.

Now through Friday, August 2, nominations are being accepted for the TRPI Steering Committee Board. Any TRPI member in good standing, including those who are ending their two-year terms, are eligible for nomination.

Four current members terms are expiring this year, so four positions will need to be filled. If you are interested in serving in this leadership role, or would like to nominate someone, please fill out the nomination form provided on page 2 so the name can be included on the election ballot. The two-year terms will give those interested in serving their industry the opportunity to make a positive impact on the continued success of Towing and Recovery Professionals of Iowa.

TRPI board member responsibilities are outlined on the nomination form found on page 2. All nomination forms must be returned to the IMTA office by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 2.

Nominations will be placed on the election ballot and distributed to TRPI members. Board members will be elected by a majority vote of ballots received by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 23.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call the TRPI office at (515) 244-5193.

It’s the Perfect Opportunity to Promote Iowa’s Towing Industry and TRPI’s Move Over Campaign

Volunteer for TRPI Day at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 10

Towing and Recovery Professionals of Iowa’s Move Over Campaign gained valu-able support on May 15 when Iowa Gover-nor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation for the Move Over Law.

The proclamation came right on the heels of the TRPI Steering Committee’s decision to jump start a grassroots initia-tive for the campaign immediately follow-ing the signing ceremony in the governor’s formal office at the Iowa State Capitol.

“This is a simple law that all motorists should understand and treat with respect,” said TRPI Chairman Carmela Darrah-Chiafos. “Moving over and slowing down creates a safer working environment for towing professionals, emergency respond-ers and law enforcement personnel on our state’s highways and roads.”

Joining the TRPI Steering Committee at the Governor’s Proclamation Signing were representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Public Safety – all of which are supportive of TRPI’s public awareness campaign. Major Ned Lewis attended on behalf of the Iowa DOT while Colonel Dave Garrison and Commissioner K. Brian London represented the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa DPS, respectively.

Other organizations that had representa-tion for the proclamation signing included the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association, Iowa Firefighters Association and Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association.

While the governor’s proclamation is a significant feather in the cap of TRPI’s Move Over Campaign, TRPI will continue

accomplishing the goals associated with our campaign.”

In June 2012, Towing and Recovery Professionals of Iowa launched its public awareness campaign to inform and educate the general motoring public about Iowa’s Move Over Law. Reminding motorists to “Move Over and Slow Down” when they see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road is TRPI’s campaign mission with a clear objective to eliminate secondary acci-dents and save lives.

Prior to starting this campaign, TRPI was successful in advocating for increased penalties in front of the Iowa Legislature. Hanifen Company was the leader of this initiative in 2012 by collecting signatures and support for stronger penalties.

TRPI Move Over Campaign Receives Valuable Support from Governor’s Proclamation

3 A D i v i s i o n o f t h e I o w a M o t o r T r u c k A s s o c i a t i o n

to make concerted efforts this year to build complete support and awareness across the state of Iowa. This is the reason behind the grassroots initiative the steering committee adopted in the spring.

“We want to connect with as many people as we possibly can for the good of everyone on our roads,” Darrah-Chiafos said. “The more individuals who keep this law – and responsibility – top of mind will only increase the likelihood of TRPI

TRPI members present when Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed the Move Over Proclamation on May 15 in-cluded (left to right) Norbert and Virginia Bertling, Trebon, Inc.; Joe and Sylvia Jennings, Jennings Towing and Repair; Bill Crom, Bill’s Towing and Wrecker Services; Carmela Darrah-Chiafos, Darrah’s, Inc.; Barney Bushore, Barney’s, Inc.; T.J. Newberry, Newberry’s, Inc.; and Collin Allen, Julie Hanifien, John Kearse and Justin Schwarz, of Hanifen Company.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation on May 15 recognizing the importance of Iowa’s Move Over Law and the work TRPI is doing to lead a public awareness campaign for it. The TRPI Steering Commit-tee attended the proclamation signing, inviting repre-sentatives from the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association, Iowa Firefighters Association and Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association to join.

4 T R P I N e w s l e t t e r | J u l y 2 0 1 3

More than 60 people attended the TRPI Member Event on June 22 at Hanifen Company in Des Moines. It was a great day to participate in the recovery demonstrations and interact with officers from the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Highway Patrol who came to speak.

A special thanks goes out to Roddy Pellow, of Twin Cities Wrecker Sales, and Fred Grueber, of Miller Industries, for conducting the recovery demos. Roddy and his wife, Joyce, also need to be thanked for the Root Beer Floats they made available after the lunch that was provided by Hanifen Company.

Appreciation is also extended to Hanifen Company for opening up its facili-ty and welcoming fellow TRPI members for the day to learn, network and visit with the following vendors: Bauer Built Tire Insurance Auto Auctions Boyer Petroleum Co. Iowa Plains Signing Car Quest Twin Cities Wrecker Sales Freightliner of Des Moines Zip’s Truck Equipment

Successful TRPI Member Event Held at Hanifen’s in June

Left: Iowa State Patrol Officer Tracy Bohlen speaks to the crowd of TRPI members about some processes and procedures the Patrol needs taken into consideration when calling towers to an accident. Above: Jake Elmquist, Elmquist Towing Company, explores what one of the eight vendors present at the event has to offer.

Top Right: John Kearse, Hanifen Company; Allen Fleener, Hanifen Company; Darin Metsker, Newberry, Inc.; T.J. Newberry, Newberry, Inc.; and Julie Hanifen, Hanifen Company. Middle Right: Perry’s Service employees Andy DeBoard, Jason Wright, Gary DeBoard & Dan Ashley. Bottom Right: Campus Towing employees Harold Warner, Robert Bentley and Carl Kruse. Below: Roddy Pellow, Twin Cities Wrecker Sales; discusses a scenario with (left to right) T.J. Newberry, Newberry’s, Inc.; Deran Dawson, Deran’s Towing; and Bill Crom; Bill’s Towing & Wrecker Service.

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Above: Mike Brown, Mike’s Towing; hooks up a wire during the recovery demonstration. Top Right: A recovery demonstration was staged during the TRPI Member Event to encourage collaboration through education. Middle Right: Bill & Ray’s employees Bubba Myers, Dustin DeWitt, Adam DeBruin, Lynn Kaufman and Jaun Bannister. Bottom Right: Roddy Pellow, of Twin Cities Wrecker Sales, leads a portion of the recovery demonstration that incorporated both light- and heavy-duty elements.

Right: Fred Grueber, of Miller Industries, discusses a thought about the recovery demonstration while leading a portion of it. Above: A trio of Hanifen employees work on hitching the axle of a trailer to lift it away from the recovery.

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 Return Due by August 31

Filing online is an efficient and effective way of completing the Form 2290, and IMTA2290.com features the most competitive prices available through any e-file provider. Companies with 25 or more trucks are required to electronically file the Form 2290 online through an IRS authorized e-file pro-vider. IMTA2290.com is supported by an authorized provider, making it a premier filing option. Organizations that have less than 25 trucks can still file using a paper return, but they must download it from the IRS Web site. Paper returns are no longer being mailed by the IRS. This filing period is for the year beginning July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014. If you have questions or need help filing your Form 2290 return, please visit www.IMTA2290.com or call the IMTA office at (515) 244-5193.

Don’t forget to file your 2013-14 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 return with the Internal Revenue Service no later than August 31. All returns must be electronically filed or postmarked by this date to be considered timely. Late fees and/or penalties will be assessed for missing the deadline. Any company that operates one or more commercial motor vehicles weighing over 55,000 pounds must file this annual return. The Iowa Motor Truck Association has a Web site – IMTA2290.com – specifically designed for filing the return. As a division of the IMTA, TRPI members choosing the file through IMTA2290.com are eligible to receive a discount off the filing fee. Using the code IMTA10 when checking out will deduct 10 percent off the filing fee associated with the return. Other benefits of IMTA2290.com include: Schedule 1 (proof of payment) received in minutes Single vehicle returns featuring lowest price in the industry Tiered pricing to accommodate operations of all sizes Yearly packages that provide unlimited filing options for

larger operations Vehicle information securely stored for future use Free VIN corrections

Save Money, Time Filing Online at www.IMTA2290.com

Khrystyne Elsberry, a graduate of Boone High School who is currently attending Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, was selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation. Elsberry is the recipient of the TRPI Scholarship, which was established by an endowment in 2012 from Towing and Recovery Professionals of Iowa to the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation. Winners of this award must be a student who is either an employee or a family member of an employee working for a TRPI member. Dennis Elsberry, Khrystyne’s father , is a 41-year employee of Condon Services in Boone, Iowa. Scholarships through the IMCF are available to anyone who is pursuing advanced education in the state of Iowa. The Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation was created in an effort for the trucking industry to give back to the state of Iowa and to invest in the most important asset Iowa has … the next generation. The Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation is a division of the Iowa Motor Truck Association and has been awarding scholarships since 1986 to Iowans pursuing an advanced degree at an Iowa college or university.

Khrystyne Elsberry Awarded 2013 TRPI Scholarship

Brenda Neville presented Khrystyne Elsberry with her scholarship check and certificate on behalf of TRPI on Wednesday, June 19, at the Iowa Motor Truck Association office in Des Moines.

— IMTA2290.com — Providing Premier HVUT

Form 2290 E-filing Options

6 T R P I N e w s l e t t e r | J u l y 2 0 1 3

Winching: Learn a Little … Learn a Bunch

Your truck’s winch and wire towing cable remain the lifeline of your towing operation. They work in tandem, each one relying on the other. If used safely, they are powerful allies. Used poorly, they can create havoc and heartache. Before you tackle your next recovery mission, please take a moment to review the following basic recovery safety practices.

Always try to position your truck so the winch can pull straight. Avoid putting excessive side pull pressure on your boom, and pulling heavy loads at extreme angles. During side pulls, wire rope tends to stack up at one end of the drum. Stop, spool out and re-adjust as needed.

Always set your truck’s parking brakes before attempting any recovery. If equipped, apply wheel chocks or scotch blocks for added stability. Most wheel-lifts were not designed as recovery stabilizers and should not be used as such.

Always use gloves when handling wire cables. Don’t let wire rope slip through your hand or you may experience the painful injury known as a “cable sliver.”

Avoid operating your winch with less than five wraps of cable around the drum. Replace worn or damaged cable before attempting any serious recovery.

When performing a recovery, avoid hooking directly to the load. Always try using alloy chains or comparable slings, straps or shackles.

When rigging for a recovery, always attach hooks with their points facing up. If the hook fails, it will tend to shoot down into the dirt rather than the air towards you.

Keep in mind that a winch mounted on a tow truck or car carrier is not designed or intended for overhead lifting.

Never winch an occupied vehicle.

Once your winch cable is connected to the disabled vehicle, moving your truck under load is discouraged due to lack of control and possible shock loads.

Never hook the cable back onto itself – the cable will be damaged.

If you cannot see all sides of the load/vehicle, request the assistance of a helper (preferably a knowledgeable one) and agree on hand signals before you start winching.

Never walk between a winch and its load if the wire rope is under tension.

Always calculate the maximum possible load on the line and rig for twice that weight. If you are unsure about the resistance (i.e. mud) calculate on the high side.

By Patrick Gratzianna, Midwest Fleet Safety President

Keep all spectators, customers and emergency personnel clear from winching areas. Evacuate the area for their safety. Never allow a bystander to assist you.

When wire rope breaks under tension, it lashes 'back to two points: the load and the winch. When possible, use your truck as a shield. Always be prepared to react quickly and safely should the cable break. Some winch manufacturers suggest hanging a heavy blanket midway over the winch cable to absorb some of the energy should the cable break.

When operating the winch, avoid distractions and concentrate on the recovery job. Keep checking your tow truck for stability and keep your eyes on the load and your attachment devices.

Listen to your truck while winching. Some creaks and strains are normal but beware of sharp popping sounds from the winch or wire rope. This may indicate something is about to fail, quite possibly the cable.

Winch slowly and methodically. Avoid sudden shock loads.

Keep your cables snug (not overly tight) when not in use. Cable wears the most when you are riding empty with no weight to hold it into the sheaves.

Match the recovery with the truck. If your truck is sliding despite your best efforts, you have two options: reduce the amount of pull on the line or use a bigger truck. Never tie down the front of your truck when performing a recovery; you may cause severe frame damage.

When the recovery is complete, make sure winch lines are wound evenly on the drum and not twisted or kinked.

Regardless of your years of experience or the price of your tow truck, your safety is your responsibility, and you should never allow yourself to be rushed when performing a vehicle recovery. Work quickly and efficiently, but also carefully.

It is recommended that hooks be attached with the points facing up and not down when rigging for a recovery. Doing so will often result in the hook shooting down into the dirt instead of up into the air towards the operator if it fails.

7 A D i v i s i o n o f t h e I o w a M o t o r T r u c k A s s o c i a t i o n

TOWING & RECOVERY PROFESSIONALS OF IOWA 717 East Court Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50309 www.iowatowingprofessionals.com

POSTAGE

AUGUST 2, 2013 TRPI Steering Committee Nominations

Nominations must be submitted to the Iowa Motor Truck Association office no later than 5:00 p.m. to be listed on election ballot

AUGUST 10, 2013

TRPI Day at the Iowa State Fair Varied Industries Building

Iowa State Fairgrounds Des Moines, Iowa

SEPTEMBER 17-18, 2013 IMTA Annual Management Conference Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center

Lake Okoboji, Iowa

For more information or to ask questions about any of these dates, please contact Phillip Nicolino by e-mailing phillip@iowamotortruck.com or calling (515) 244-5193.

Dates to Remember