When you’re on the side of the road, the “best” towing gear is the gear that connects fast, holds right, and doesn’t make you fight it. We sit down with Wes and April Wilburn to talk about what’s changing at TowingEquipmentDirect.com, why their customers keep saying the same thing, and how hands-on product support can be just as valuable as the hardware you’re buying.

We get into the practical stuff tow operators actually care about: specialty chains built for real workflows, hook choices that make securement smoother, and simple rigging upgrades that can save time under pressure. Wes breaks down a few customer-favorite solutions, including V1-style setups that help you build flexible chain bridles, plus strap-chain connectors designed to reduce unnecessary binding while still giving you solid attachment options. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right towing and recovery rigging for your day-to-day calls, this conversation makes it easier to think through.

We also talk ordering and fulfillment, including why shipping speed depends on whether an item is in stock, being built in the shop, or drop shipped through distributor relationships. You’ll hear how to reach them for custom chain lengths or specialized configurations, and why their growing library of quick product videos helps operators understand working loads and fit before they buy. We also touch on their broader recovery gear lineup, including synthetic options like wheel straps, tire slings, round slings, and polyester flat recovery straps.

Check out www.towingequipmentdirect.com, use coupon code podcast 10 for 10% off, and call 910-747-9000 if you need something custom. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a tow buddy, and leave a review so more operators can find the show.

A car gets towed after a traffic stop. Twelve hours later, police show up at the tow yard with one message: evacuate, the vehicle may contain bomb-making materials. That’s the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina story we break down, and it’s a gut-check for anyone in towing and recovery, dispatch, or impound operations.

We’re joined by Rick Rahner and Robin Rahner from Quality Towing in Myrtle Beach to walk through what happened step by step: where the vehicle was stored, how close it sat to their office, what it felt like to clear employees and customers out, and what it costs a business to shut down for hours while the bomb squad, SLED, and ATF work the scene. Their firsthand account highlights the real safety stakes of police rotation towing and the need for better communication when a “normal” tow isn’t normal at all.

We also hit major towing industry news from Georgia, including the heartbreaking death of tow operator Frank Ingram, the frustration around accountability, and why Slow Down Move Over laws still aren’t respected even though they exist in every state. Finally, we touch on Georgia House Bill 184 and the questions it raises about compliance, fees, and third-party systems.

Subscribe, share this with a tow operator you respect, and leave a review. What’s the first change you’d make to your yard safety protocol after hearing this?

In case you missed it.......A bold merger sets a new standard for towing safety, training, and career growth. We bring together Cardinal Legacy Towing Group and the American Towing and Recovery Institute to create the American Towing and Recovery Training Division, headquartered in St. Louis with a permanent training facility on the way. From light-duty recoveries to EV incidents and fire and rescue coordination, we map out a practical plan to raise skills while protecting the people who step onto the shoulder every day.

Curtis Barks joins us to share how consolidation can empower small operators without erasing local identity. We dig into real numbers—pay bumps around 18 to 21 percent, life and health insurance, dental and vision coverage, and 401(k) matches—and why scale helps beat soaring insurance costs. The conversation spans St. Louis, South Florida, and Kansas City, showing how shared dispatch, group buying, and open training days create a network where you can call for help, trade knowledge, and go home safe.

Safety is the throughline. We talk about the move over mission, first-responder realities, and partnerships with Backstoppers and Guns & Hoses that support families and address trauma. Then we look ahead: a 10-acre campus designed for water scenarios, advanced recoveries, and comprehensive pathways for new entrants, veterans, and experienced hands who want to lead. With mentors like JT Reeser and Wes Wilburn, we’re building a pipeline that treats towing as a skilled trade—respected, well paid, and ready for the next decade’s challenges.

If you care about professional training, fair pay, and getting every operator home at the end of the shift, this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review with the one scenario you want our training facility to simulate next. Your ideas will shape the curriculum we build together.