I.B.A.  Arizona State Towing Association

Light Duty

Towing & Recovery School

T.R.A.A.   Certification Offered

Arizona Tow Truck Certification

A 16-Hour Service and Safety Course Outline

Copyright 2006 Randall C. Resch 

Day One:

Module 1:           Course Introduction

·         Training Requirements

·         Our Place in the Industry

·         The Tow Operator’s Mindset                                      

·         Required Certification for the Future

Module 2:           Code of Ethics

Module 3:           Permit Processing for Tow Operators and Tow Agents

·         Defining the Application Process

·         Mandates for Towing and Recovery Companies and Personnel

·         Permit Required Permit Application                                     

·         Prohibition of Unauthorized Operation

·         Driver’s License Criteria

Module 4:           Professional Conduct and Ethics

·         Working with Law Enforcement

·         Attitude is Everything

·         Maintaining Professional Behaviour

·         The True Service Professional

·         Drugs, Alcohol and Narcotics

Module 5            Sexual Harrassment

Module 6:           Driver’s License Requirements

·         Class “C” Light Duty Requirements

·         Protect Your Privilege To Operate a Motor Vehicle                         

·         MVR Driver History / Mandatory License Check by ISP

·         Driver Probationary Status by ISP

Module 7:           Uniforms and Image for Today’s Professional

·         Professional Appearance and Image

·         Uniforms to Identify On-Scene Personnel

·         Set-up and Arrangement of Equipment

Module 8:           Terminology for Today’s Industry

·         Flatbed Carriers

·         Tow Trucks and Wheel lifts

·         The “Need to Know” Requirement

·         VIN Specifics / Identification and Purpose

Module 9:           Basic Tow Related Mechanics

·         Drivershaft Removal

·         Use of Floor-Jacks and Stands

·         Avoid Under-Vehicle Work

·         Unlocks and Unlock Responsibilities

·         E-brakes and On-board Preparation

Module 10:        Effective Communications

·         Phoenetic Alphabet / Use of Radios and Cellphones

·         Driver Availability on On-Call Responsibilities

·         Using Effective Listening Techniques

·         Understanding the Incident Commander

Module 11:        Mandatory Equipment Inspections

·         Preparation of Daily Inspections

·         Documentation of Descrepancies

·         Criminal Sanctions for Unsafe Equipment

·         Identify Roman Numeral “IIIIII”

·         Safety Goal, Perceptions and Concepts by Law Enforcement

·         Annual Tow Trucks Inspections

Module 12:        Operations and Safety Expectations

·         Danger Awareness for the Inndustry

·         Identify Roadside Dangers

·         Tow Operator’s Safety MINdset

·         Factors for Safety

·         Reading “On-scene” Danger Signals

·         Escape Routes

·         Objects that Fly

·         Hybrid Dangers

·         Securing Wheel lift Retainers

Module 13:        Serving the Law Enforcement Community

·         The Purpose of Professionalism

·         Tow Operator On-Scene Responsibilities

·         Special Requests by Law Enforcement

Module 14:        Responding to Priority Calls

·         Mandatory Response Times

·         Definition of “Expedite”

·         Tow Vehicles are NOT first Responders

·         Shoulder Response to Scene

·         Working Fatality Scenes

·         Lighting and Placement of Flares

·         Use and Placement of Traffic Cones

Module 15:        Critical Survival Considerations

·         Tow Vehicle Oprations

·         Tow Vehicle Placement for Safety

·         Service Calls on the Highway

·         Corridor of Safety

·         Roadside Safety Procedures

·         Working the NON-TRAFFIC Side

·         On-scene Arrival and Departure

·         Straight-Tracking for Towed Vehicles

·         Critical Tasks at Recovery Scenes

·         Effective Use of Emergency Lighting

·         Required Use of Safety Restraint Devices

·         Fires Extinguishers

·         Securing Wheel lift Retainers

·         Inclement Weather Considerations

Module 16:        Tow Related BloodBourne Pathogens

·         Information of Haz-Mat Pathogen Sites

·         Driver Responsibilities

·         Dangerous Plants, Insects, Reptiles

·         The Dangers of Transporting Animals

·         On-scene Self-Preservation

Module 17:        Dangers of Hazardous Materials

·         Responding to Accident Scenes

·         The Nine-Classes of Hazardous Materials

·         Location of On-board Product or On-Board Manifests

·         Haz-Mat On-Scene Safety

·         The Dangers of Hybrid Vehicles

·         Working with Other First Responders

Module 18:        Towing and Recovery Capabilities and Capacities

·         Light-Duty Tow Capacity for Tow Trucks

·         Recovery Operations for Light-Duty Tow Trucks

·         Use, Locations and Idenifying Rating Plates

·         Calculating Maximum Lift Capacity (MLC)

·         Breaking Strength Chain, Wire Ropes, Straps

·         The Dangers of Threaded Loading Loops

Section 19:          Application of Towing & Recovery Equipment

·         No J-Hooks for Recoveries

·         J-Hook Damages to Suspension

·         Application of Safe Attachment Points

·         Four-Point Tie-Down / Carrier Operations

·         Safety Chains Attached to Towed Vehicles

·         Application of Rollover Chains

·         Uprighting Vehicle Rollover – Tow Truck

·         Uprighting Vehicle Rollover – Flatbed Carrier

·         Application of Snatchblock

·         Last Resort 4x4 Stiff-Leg Technique

·         Pivot Winching Procedures

·         Application of Tow Dollies

·         Lumber for Lowered / Difficult Vehicles

·         Use of Safe Recovery Methods

·         Dangers of Mechanical PTO Systems

·         Recovery Hazards for Unusual Scenarios

·         Safe-Winching Zone

·         The “Twice Removed” Zone

·         Avoid the Whiplash Zone

Module 20:        Basic Service Call Procedures

·         Understanding the Dangers of Service Calls

·         Customers NO to Assist

·         Maintain Keys from the Start

·         Controling the Roadside Customer

·         Dealing with the Upset Customer

·         Transporting Additional Riders

·         Arrival and Approach On-Scene

·         Primary Safety Techniques

·         Recognizing Danger Zones

·         Avoid the Breakaway Zone

Module 21:        Administration / Business Forms / Documentation

·         Invoice Preparation

·         Vehicles Marked at Facility

·         Documentation of Damages

·         Vehicle Release Procedures

·         Responding to Driver Complaints

Module 22:        Insurance Definitions and Types for Tow Operators

Module 23:        Career Preparation for Tow Agents

·         How-to find career opportunities

·         Building a resume

·         Job Search local and long-distance

Module 24:        Open Forum

·         Tow Agent’s Question and Answer

Day Two:

Hands-on and Demonstration Module

Discussion of On-scene Safety Considerations

·         Tactical Placement of Tow Vehicle

·         Tow Operator/Agent Positioning for Safety

·         Working the NON-TRAFFIC SIDE

·         Avoiding the “Danger Zones”

·         Avoiding the “Crush-Zone”

·         Avoiding the “Drop and Fall Zone”

·         Avoiding the “Breakaway Zone”

·         Avoiding the “Whip-lash Zone”

Tactical Use of Common Towing and Recovery Equipment

·         How-to apply tow specific equipment

·         Snatch blocks

·         Rollover Chains

·         Determining Safe Attachment Points

·         Pivot Winch Procedures

Topic Specific Recovery Techniques

·         The difficulty of Upside-Down Recoveries:  Fact vs. Fiction