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Carrier Series VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1 | MARCH 2008 www.jerr-dan.com FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL WIN A TRIP TO NA SEE PAGESCAR S 25 & 26 PAGE 10 THE JERR-DAN 3-CAR C ARRIER SERIES PAGE 4 DIFFERENCE MAKERS PAGE 16 CONTROLLED GROWTH Comment FOR THE HARD-WORKING TOWING PROFESSIONAL THE paSSinG OF THE BATON Contents 4 JERR-DAN OWNER PROFILE uring my 38 years at enjoyed my years here at Jerr-Dan, A Rotator helps Hunter’s Inc. stand out. Jerr-Dan Corporation, I’ve seen but it’s time to pass the baton. 6 JERR-DAN CORNER D a lot of changes take place — I am pleased to welcome Michael New regulations catch many by surprise. within our company as well as within (Mike) Walter as the new president. 9 PRODUCT REVIEW the towing industry. Change is good; As of February, Mike stepped into and I’m proud to have been a part the role as president for Jerr-Dan 10 PRODUCT PROFILE The 3-car carrier series. of this industry and this company. Corporation. Mike will continue to lead Times change. Jerr-Dan, driving business 12 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Towers and firefighters work side by Leadership changes. strategy as well as side toward a common goal. Products change. performance and growth for our industry-leading brand 14 MANUFACTURING Processes change. A Jerr-Dan operations overview. The industry changes. of wreckers and carriers. However, one thing Mike was most recently 16 JERR-DAN OWNER PROFILE Cortes Towing is the perfect size that will never executive vice president company for two brothers. change: the Jerr-Dan and chief operating 18 DISTRIBUTOR PROFILE commitment to quality officer of General Products Wreckers Ltd. and value. Our Jeff Weller Corporation based in Comerzia commitment to you, the Columbus, Ohio. Prior to 22 COMPANY NEWS tower, has never, and his post at General Products will never, waver. Corporation, he was with 24 SHOW & GO I feel confident Hendrickson International 26 RUNNING HARD assuring you that even in Woodridge, Illinois. 27 INTERNATIONAL REVIEW though times will Mike also previously held continue to change, various positions with our commitment to you Johnson Controls Inc. is our No. 1 priority. Mike Walter He holds a bachelor’s We have, and will degree in both mechanical continue to, invest substantial resources engineering and industrial Our Mission into facilities, people and training to be management from Gannon University To provide you with timely information your full-time equipment provider. in Erie, Pennsylvania. about towing and recovery equipment technology, products and safety. I want to take this opportunity to It’s an exciting time to be with “Since 1992” inform you all of my decision to retire Jerr-Dan. I welcome Mike and look Run Hard TM is published on behalf of Jerr-Dan Corporation, an as President of Jerr-Dan Corporation. forward to watching as he leads Oshkosh Corporation Company, and Jerr-Dan Distributors. Editorial office: 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803. I want to thank you for your Jerr-Dan to continue to be the No. 1 Phone: (800) 547-7377. E-mail: [email protected]. friendship, for your camaraderie, for manufacturer of the worlds’ best Printed in the United States, © 2008 Jerr-Dan Corporation Volume 17, Number 1, March 2008. For Canada: Agreement your advice, for your suggestions, and towing and recovery equipment. Number 40064547. most of all, for your support. I have Jeff Weller, President RUN HARD 3 WWW.JERR-DAN.COM VOL.15,VOL.17, NO.1 NO.1 MARCH MARCH 20062008 Owner Profile A Jerr-Dan 60-ton Rotator is the newest wrecker to be added to the Hunter Auto Peterbilt chassis and features a boom & Wrecker Service fleet. Here it easily lifts a cement mixer off the ground. that rotates a full 360 degrees. It is rated at 120,000 lbs. while the “We’ve grown with technology Jerr-Dan trucks boom is retracted and can handle a DIFFERENCE and the business,” Rick says. bring contracts side pull of more than 68,000 lbs. “Charlotte has become a big The company’s first Jerr-Dan Hunter can reach more during metropolitan city, and we were the vehicle was a standard-duty rollback a recovery and get into position first company to have equipment carrier with a 21-ft. steel bed on thanks to a working radius with a wheel lift. We have an International chassis. In 1999 of nearly 42 ft. MAKERS the edge because we’ve Hunter’s purchased its first Jerr-Dan “The massiveness and power of our been performing towing and wrecker, an HDL 500/280 25-ton Jerr-Dan equipment are amazing,” recovery for so long. We’re heavy-duty wrecker on a single-axle Rick says. “When proud of our reputation.” Kenworth chassis. The unit is still in competitors boom up About 75 percent of the fleet and hasn’t required any with other wreckers, all OWNER PROFILE the jobs are towing and major maintenance. we hear is squeaking Hunter Auto & recovery, but with the In 2006 the company bought a and carrying on. We Wrecker Service Inc. heavy-duty Jerr-Dan Jerr-Dan HDL 1000/530 50-ton don’t know whether or Charlotte, North Carolina wreckers and now the heavy-duty wrecker and added not those vehicles will Jerr-Dan Fleet Profile: Jerr-Dan Rotator, the another the next year. do the job. But when Wreckers: company is getting “We have large contracts that we boom up with a • One 60-ton Rotator into smaller work require heavy towing equipment,” Jerr-Dan, we know it’s • Two HDL 1000/530 50-ton heavy-duty wreckers Rick says. “We have three Jerr-Dan going to do the job; • One HDL 500/280 25-ton wreckers with coach booms and they it won’t stop. heavy-duty wrecker can handle anything that’s thrown at “I speak from them. With bigger recovery vehicles, experience because I Carriers: One standard-duty rollback drive the wreckers. I • we can perform recovery work with carrier with a 21-ft. steel bed one truck instead of two. It’s more wouldn’t buy anything beneficial because one of the other other than a Jerr-Dan Services trucks can be somewhere else working. because I appreciate • Light-, medium- and heavy-duty towing and recovery That’s more cost-efficient for the how they are built and • 24-hour roadside assistance customer, too.” what they do. There’s such as loading air conditioners, Hunter also appreciates the quality nothing better A Jerr-Dan Rotator setting compressors and generators, of Jerr-Dan construction. out there than the and unloading and loading tractors “I like the Jerr-Dan composite 60-ton Rotator. I am helps this North Carolina and trailers. body,” he says. “It makes a world of always looking for company stand out. “We’ll go in a 100-mile radius to difference. The units are sound and new technology, and I do whatever job the customer needs solid and don’t develop any rust. know it will probably ention wreckers in the The latest addition is a Jerr-Dan Four generations us to do,” Rick says. “Anything that They’re built very well, and we’ve come from Jerr-Dan.” Charlotte, North Carolina 60-ton heavy-duty rotator. Hunter Auto & Wrecker was formed is movable, we try to do it.” never had any problems, whether To attract new M area, and the first name “Our equipment separates us from in 1945 by Rick’s grandparents, Dick Hunter’s employs 45 people, with it’s electrical, toolbox configuration customers, Hunter you’ll mostly likely hear is Hunter Auto the competition,” third-generation and Helen Hunter. Dick had just been 25 to 30 dedicated to towing and or wheel lift. We’ve only replaced often takes the & Wrecker Service Inc. Not just because owner Rick Hunter says. “We buy discharged from the Armed Forces and recovery. a bushing and pin in the 25-ton Jerr-Dan wreckers the towing and recovery business has the best technology and equipment started a used car business. He soon “The key to profitability is good vehicle once since we’ve had it, and to their locations. been around for four generations, but to tackle the jobs that others can’t or bought a wrecker to tow the vehicles. employees,” Rick says. “We train it’s almost 10 years old.” “I talk to customers because their equipment is unmatched won’t do. Our Jerr-Dan wreckers with Their sons, Thomas and Carroll Hunter, and treat them well. We treat about what we can among the competition. coach boom lifts have towed a lot of took over, and today Thomas Jr. (Rick) customers fairly, too, and the result The new 60-ton do,” he says. “Once The fleet includes two Jerr-Dan competitors’ vehicles because their and his son, Clay, run the business. A has been good repeat business Jerr-Dan Rotator they see the equipment, Thomas Hunter Jr. (Rick) is a HDL 1000/530 50-ton heavy-duty underreaches are not big enough to cousin, Tommy Hunter, operates another regardless if it’s an overturned The newest addition to Hunter’s they know they’re OK. third-generation tower in the wreckers and an HDL 500/280 handle the task. We regularly help part of the business that handles used tractor-trailer or a broken down car.” towing fleet is the Jerr-Dan 60-ton Our Jerr-Dan equipment family business. 25-ton heavy-duty wrecker. them out on jobs they can’t handle.” auto parts. Rotator. The unit rides on a 2007 speaks for itself.” ■ 4 RUN HARD RUN HARD 5 VOL.17, NO.1 MARCH 2008 VOL.17, NO.1 MARCH 2008 Jerr-Dan Corner The attended the meetings and spoken a light-duty tow/service truck school district, or state agency, out against it, and would have driver can drive is 80 hours federal funding to the state; (4) will flooded the CHP office with letters, total in any 8 consecutive day neither create nor eliminate jobs in faxes and e-mails.
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