2/13/06 3:26 PM Page 1 ON CALL 24/7 - Miller Industries

ON CALL 24/78503 HILLTOP DROOLTEWAH TN 37363

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4 Inside ViewCelebrating 90 years.

6 The Very First TimeA personal trip through time: from the Holmes750 through today’s equipment.

10 Building It for YouReviewing three new options and features to ourpopular Century and Vulcan 10 Series Carriers.

12 Proof’s in the PerformanceTwo towing companies share a successfulrecovery.

14 The Cause ContinuesThe International Towing and Recovery Hall ofFame and Museum’s Survivor Fund and Wall ofthe Fallen.

18 All Chain Attachments Are Not Created EqualThe all-important and often-overlooked chainhook adapters.

22 The Men Behind the MagicDesign, manufacture and systems – the threedivisions that comprise Miller IndustriesEngineering Department.

25 2007 EmissionsNew technology may equal big concerns fortruck owners.

26 Miller Finance Advantage Is Your AdvantageThere are still opportunities to secure financingterms that are most favorable if you know whereto look and how to approach the process.

30 Miller Rocks Baltimore Again!A photo recap of Miller Industries recentBaltimore show success.

Table of Contents

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 3

On The Cover

Tom Luciano, Northeast District Manager and Training Instructor for

Miller Industries, calculates line pulls using an electronic pull meter and

counterweight on a Century 602. Miller Industries products undergo a

series of different test methods during the design and manufacturing

process (see Joe Brown’s

article, page 22). Tests begin

with Miller Industries’ engi-

neers using Pro-Engineer 3-

D Design software and Finite

Element Analysis and con-

clude with actual hands-on

procedures such as pull

meters, strain gauge and

field tests. Tom finds being

involved in some of the test-

ing provides information that

is beneficial to share during

many of his training classes,

especially when focusing on

how load factors are placed

on equipment during towing

and recovery operations.

On Call 24/7 is published quarterly by Miller Industries TowingEquipment Inc., 8503 Hilltop Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363. Phone:(423) 238-4171, Fax: (423) 238-5371, www.millerind.com.Copyright ©2006 Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. All rightsreserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without writ-ten permission from Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc.

With the beginning of a New Year, many of us once again have madeNew Year’s resolutions, maybe to quit smoking or my favorite, to loseweight. I would like to propose a resolution to you to set aside some timefor training in 2006. It may include attending a class program such as thoseconducted by WreckMaster, a state association, an auto club, or from oneof many well-known individual instructors such as Wes Wilburn, Joe Srogaor our own Tom Luciano. If you can’t get away to attend a class, there arevideos and manuals available from TRAA or WreckMaster and there arealways quality articles in the towing publications.

Tom Luciano shared a letter he received from a well-respected, expe-rienced manager at a large towing company. He complimented Tom onhis last article, “Simple Hookup Engineering,” in the winter issue of OnCall 24/7. The manager wrote that the article was going to be manda-tory reading for his drivers. Many things we all have learned throughoutour years of experience are sometimes hard to convey in simple wordsor are sometimes forgotten. So letters like this let us know we’re ontrack with the information we’re providing. Feedback of any type makesall the work of publishing On Call 24/7 worthwhile because we know ithas value for our readers.

At Miller Industries, we are committed to the industry and to training.Watch for Tom, and other Miller Industries people, to provide classes andtraining throughout the year with many associations and during severaltow shows across the country. We will also continue to provide you witheducational articles and tips in On Call 24/7. We hope our efforts help youto achieve your training goals in 2006. As always, we welcome your sug-gestions and comments. Thanks for reading.

Randy Olson, EditorOn Call 24/7 Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. 8503 Hilltop Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 or E-mail: [email protected]


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4 Spring 2006 On Call 24/7

John Hawkins [email protected] Very First TimePages 6 - 8

Dan [email protected] It For YouPages 10 – 11

Contributing Editors

Tom [email protected] Chain AttachmentsAre Not Created EqualPages 18 – 20

Joe [email protected] Men Behind the MagicPages 22 - 23

Dayton ShepardLee-Smith Inc.2007 Emissions - NewTechnology May EqualBig Concerns for TruckOwnersPage 25

Michael PaezSovereign BankMiller FinanceAdvantage Is YourAdvantagePages 26 – 27

Randy Olson, [email protected] Cause ContinuesPage 14

Inside View

NINETY YEARS OF SERVICE By Jeff Badgley

President and Co-CEO

Ninety years ago, in the small community of Chattanooga, Tennessee, ErnestHolmes built a piece of equipment to help motorists in need. Around the turn of thecentury, in the automobile’s infancy, an estimated 8,000 cars were on the nation’s144 miles of paved road. That’s very hard to believe as our nation struggles todaywith over 200 million vehicles on who knows how many miles of paved road.

You have to wonder what Ernest, an interior designer by trade, was thinking thatday he helped his friend retrieve his stuck vehicle. Obviously he was a man of foresight, realizing that as the automotive industry grew, so would the need for theability to serve that industry. Yet he was also a businessman, patenting his inventionand marketing it to automotive garages and other businesses serving the rapidlygrowing automobile market.

That drive – to help and serve others – still exists in most of the tow operators Iknow today. We read and hear the goodwill stories of towing operators who go aboveand beyond to help a stranded motorist, open a locked door for a worried parent andtransport cars for local high school DUI programs so students can see first-hand thetragedies of drunk driving. We all know a tow operator who has donated a tow to aless fortunate person. We are an industry of men and women who care – about ourcustomers and about our fellow towers.

We, at Miller, will find ways throughout this year to celebrate Holmes’ 90th anniver-sary. Our hopes are that you will get an opportunity to join us in these celebrations.More importantly, we hope the industry we serve finds a way to promote its success-es to the general public and gain the recognition and respect it deserves. The indus-try’s 90 years of service is an integral part of the automotive industry’s history. Andthe services we provide will continue to play a vital role in the transportation industry– no matter what the future holds.

Ernest Holmes would be proud of today’s towing industry. And his legacy, the menand women who make up Miller Industries, are proud of the industry too. We’re proudto provide you with the most reliable, best-built towing equipment available. We’reproud to support state towing associations’ education programs and continually bringyou training through our well-known and respected employees. We’re proud to visitwith you at trade shows, and invite you to our “homes” – one of our four U.S. manu-facturing facilities. And we’re especially proud to support the International Towing andRecovery Hall of Fame and Museum, a tribute to the industry’s history.


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The Very First TimeBy John Hawkins IIIVice President of Sales, Heavy-Duty Products

It was the summer of 1977 when myfather gathered a group of towers fromacross the state of Florida to meet for thefirst Professional Wrecker Operators ofFlorida Tow Show to be held in Orlando.Both my father and I had attended sever-al well-executed Massachusetts towshows and we knew if we gathered theseprofessional tow operators from aroundthe state, there had to be a recovery sce-nario that challenged their well-honedabilities. That challenge (go figure) wasan old and retired cement mixer.

On the way to the location, while undertow, the mixer ended up on its side, in adrainage ditch, on a narrow two-laneroad off of Old Winter Garden Highway.For “The Very First Time,” I watched aHolmes 750 do the recovery off the side.I was literally hooked on its side pullcapability. But unknown to us at the time,we were witnessing the end of an era.Mechanical wreckers were on their wayout in the late 70s and hydraulics weremoving in. Hydraulics would change ourindustry forever. However, it took several

decades for these great hydraulicmachines to gain all of the side pullcapabilities that the mechanical wreck-ers had offered our forefathers since thatfirst split twin boom wrecker built byErnest Holmes in 1916.

A decade later, I traveled to the UnitedKingdom for the Association of VehicleRecovery Operators Trade Show(Europe’s largest tow show at the time).I was in awe of our fellow tow operatorsfrom across the pond and their uniqueequipment (hidden winches, tie backs,outriggers, jack legs, etc.) all tuckedaway within the vehicle that made it atask master for about any recovery job itencountered. After the show, I drove toScotland and later ended up just north ofLondon, having navigated hundreds ofmiles of narrow back country roads,through many remote areas. Theseroads were the heart of England’s trans-portation system.

I learned quickly that there was nosuch thing as parking a wrecker cross-ways in the road because the axleswould be off the often-shoulderlessroads. In a country so rich in history, Ifound that the towing industry faced


When working off the rear of the unit, theoperator has the ability to use all four ofthe powerful winches in his recovery oper-ation. In this demonstration of a reverseroll using a cement mixer, the two winchlines from the XP are run through snatchblocks attached to the end of the recoveryboom while the two main winches on theCentury 9055 serve as catch lines.

The Holmes twin boom mechanical wreckers were known for their ability tosplit the booms and tie off one winch to a dead man and/or use the side outrigger leg as a stabilizer while the other line could do a side pull recovery. That original concept has been further enhanced in the SP-850 XP throughincreased holding power via front and rear hydraulic jacks and the ability to use up to four winches in your recovery rigging.


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unique, and to say the least, difficult dailyrecovery challenges.

It was at that very show that a promi-nent tow operator from the UnitedKingdom suggested to Michael Boniface,an engineer with a well-respected towingequipment manufacturer in Europe, adesign for the new hydraulic units thatwould offer comparable capabilities asthe original Holmes mechanical wreck-ers. Specifically the tow operator wantedthe ability to pull from the side with sometype of stabilizing outrigger leg and awinch. It took several years before thefirst “Sidewinder” was introduced, butwhen it appeared, the unit recaptured thelost ability to stabilize the wrecker duringan aggressive side pull.

In the early 80s, when the first bighydraulic recovery units started appear-ing in the states, we were all amazed bythe reach and means to extend or retracta boom under load. The Century 1030pioneered this concept, but within twoyears it was replaced by the Century1040 offering two new and innovativefeatures: diagonally-opposed rear jacks(replacing the straight up-and-downjacks first offered) and diagonally-opposed front outriggers. The reason forthese two features was simple: The newCentury 1040’s jacks and front outriggersystem increased the side pull stability —but alas, still not to the degree of theHolmes mechanical wreckers.

In the mid 90s, Boniface Engineeringwas acquired by Miller Industries andwith that came the collaborative effortsamong the industry leaders in both theNorth American and European towingequipment manufacturers. This marriagewould bring together the best in recoveryand towing designs and techniques ofthe two different worlds. Our first chal-lenge was to bring the “Sidewinder” tothe states and match it with the Century5030, the most popular heavy-duty inte-grated towing and recovery unit ever pro-duced. The name “Sidewinder” wasalready trademarked in the UnitedStates, so after much deliberation, theunit was renamed the SP 850 (SP forSide Pull and 850 after the famousHolmes 850, which without a doubt wasthe most powerful factory productionmechanical wrecker ever.) The unit wasunveiled at the 1997 PWOF trade showand was sold to Scotty’s Carriage Works See The Very First Time on Page 8

The SP-850 XP allows the operator to perform recoveries off the side, ideal for narrowroads or when trying to minimize lane closures. This capability is reminiscent of the olderHolmes mechanical wreckers.

The XP’s winches are mounted low into theframe with the cable running through a pulleyand up through a pivoting sheave head. Thissystem, which includes an air tensioner, provides for better cable spooling whileallowing repositioning of the jack leg withoutaffecting the winch line.

For a typical heavy side pull operation, thefront winch line on the SP-850 XP is runthough a snatch block at the casualty andthen attached back at the D-ring locatedon the top of the jackleg. One line from themain winch on the recovery boom is run tothe casualty and the opposite winch line isrun down to the rear tailboard D-ring tohelp stabilize the boom.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 7


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The Very First Time Continued From Page 7

in Cameron, Missouri, and is in operationin his fleet today.

Like the first unit, the following unitsincorporated Boniface’s design from theUK with the Century 5030, but by thenext year’s Florida Tow Show, the designhad been totally Americanized. The unitwas now available in two models, theCentury 5030 and 9055, but also nowhad an option of four winches, two on theSP 850 and two standard winches on therecovery boom.

Five years later with nearly 50 units inoperation, we addressed a total redesignof the SP 850 to increase features andbenefits that you, our customers, saidwere important to your recovery opera-tions. In the fall of 2004, the all-new SP850 XP was introduced. The “XP,” stand-ing for “Extra Pull,” gave the unit dual35,000-lb. planetary winches low mount-ed in a new lighter-weight frame,adjustable hydraulic pivoting legs with awider stance when pivoted out, new tiebacks, and a standard toolbox configura-tion with more storage space.

Imagine pulling off the rear of yourrecovery unit with not two but four linespulling a tractor-trailer on its side or aburied track hoe. Imagine not two butfour jack legs buried down anchoringyour unit for increased stability. Imaginepulling up to a fully loaded mixer with thetires facing you with no way to turn yourunit crossways in the road and only hav-ing the ability to pull from the side. Orhow about having two separate winchlines to work with in a side pull even with-out a dead man to tie off to. This is onlythe beginning of endless possibilities ofwhat this unit can do in some toughrecovery situations. Like a rotator, youalso have the means to tow heavy vehi-cles such as mixers, packers, snorkel,pumper, bucket or fire trucks withincreased front axle weights.

And even though it has been com-pared to rotators because of its capabili-ties to work off the side, the units arereally worlds apart. In total weight the XPcan be 8,000 to 10,000 lbs. lighter and ata fraction of the cost (with two morewinches). Who’s to say what the futuremay offer with the XP. We have built anumber of units over the past yearsusing both the SP and XP models mount-ed in front of our popular rotators for theexport markets. At the recent Baltimore

tow show, the SP 850 XP was introducedwith the Vulcan V-100 and is also nowavailable with the Vulcan V-70.

What I do know is that in today’s mar-ket, no one and I mean no one offers thefeatures and the benefits of the XP forside pull recoveries. So if you are lookingto add a unit to your fleet with the diversefeatures and benefits the XP can offeralong with your choice of the proventechnology of the Vulcan V-70, Vulcan V-100, Century 7035 or Century 9055heavy-duty integrated towing and recov-ery units, you will be entering a family ofsatisfied recovery specialists. If youwould like additional information, contactyour local Century or Vulcan distributoror give us a call. We would also be happyto put you in contact with one of themany towing professionals who present-ly operate an XP and they would be gladto share their experiences.

The SP-850 XP front hydraulic legs canfold up, allowing for use of standard toolcompartments with additional storagecompartment space over the originalEuropean design.

The front adjustable hydraulic jack leg isequipped with a pivoting flat pad for hardpacked surfaces such as asphalt or concreteand has a plunger pin that allows the pad tobe locked in a spade configuration forincreased holding on soft surfaces such assand or gravel. A D-ring can be used on thetop or bottom of the jack leg to attach thehook from your winch line or a snatch block.


The XP option was recently introduced on the Vulcan V-70 and V-100 and theCentury 7035 and 9055.


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Building It for YouBy Dan Sebastian, President of Miller Industries Carrier Operations and Randy Olson, Vice President of Marketing

Miller Industries builds carriers like wewere working the jobs ourselves. Weconstantly look at new ideas and tech-nologies domestically and from ourplants in Europe. We regularly talk withprofessional operators in our constantsearch to improve safety, operation andperformance. Then we turn it all over toour engineers and say, “Make it hap-pen.” And they usually do make it hap-pen, as evidenced by several newoptions and features we introduced atthe recent Towman Show in Baltimorefor our popular Century and Vulcan 10Series carriers.

SIDE MOUNTWINCH OPTIONS

There has been an increase in thenumber of automobiles equipped witheither a permanent or screw-in transporthook or eye mounted on one side at thefront of the vehicle. This originated on



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imports and exotics but has worked itsway into the general models. With cen-ter-mounted winches, it is difficult to geta straight pull which results in the vehiclenot tracking straight onto the deck or theeye or hook being bent or twisted whenpulling at an angle even when using asnatch block at the front side of the carri-er. After studying different options, some

more costly and complicated than others,we introduced our side mount winchoption. The carrier’s winch is installed atthe front of the carrier bed parallel to theside rail and the cable is run through apulley assembly that is mounted into aslide tray at the front of the bed. By sim-ply pulling a pin, the pulley assembly caneasily slide into one of five positions and

lock to ensure a straight-line pull of thevehicle onto the carrier. Several otherbenefits include the easier access to thewinch clutch release handle and theadditional useable deck space and clear-ance at the front of the bed. This optionis now available on all Century andVulcan Steel 10 Series carriers equippedwith a stationary cab protector.

ALUMINUM OVERLAY SIDERAIL OPTION

Most towers choose steel decks forstrength and durability when purchasinga new carrier, but we still receive a lot ofcomments from towers that they preferthe appearance of the polished side railon our aluminum carrier. We went towork and developed the aluminum over-lay side rail option, which incorporates afixed polished aluminum side rail to ourpopular Century and Vulcan steel carri-ers. The narrow profile of the aluminumextrusion also provides more useabledeck width between the rails making itideal for vehicles with dual or wider tires.Roller tips and inside stake pockets arealso included with this new option.

STANDARD DUALSLIDE TRAYSSYSTEM

Now standard on all new Century andVulcan 10 Series carriers, this featureseparates the hydraulic hoses and elec-trical wiring that moves with the carrierdeck into two separate trays. The newdeeper trays reduce twisting and bend-ing to provide longer life along with easi-er replacement. The hydraulic winchhoses are molded together to reduce fric-tion and eliminate the need for additionalhose sleeves. With the increased use of21’ and 22’ carrier decks, we alsoextended the carrier sub frame by 28” toprovide more strength and durabilitywhile eliminating the need for a midshipsupport bracket.

We look forward to your continuedinput on our carrier lines as we strive tooffer you the most innovative and reliableproducts to handle your tough demands.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 11


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Proof’s in the Performance

POWER MEANS CONFIDENCE

John Tumino, president of Tumino’sTowing in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey,has no problem making a commitmentbecause he knows the capabilities of hisoperators and his towing equipment to getthe job done. On a busy Friday morning inOctober on Route 80, a tractor-trailer witha half-load of diesel fuel overturned. Thestate police wanted to know how long itwould take to clear the highway. With con-fidence in his people and equipment, Johntold them they would have it done in anhour and a half.

Tumino’s responded with their Century1060S rotator, Vulcan V-70 and Vulcan V-50. The 1060S and V-70 were positionedon the side of the overturned tanker andrigged to do a reverse roll. The V-50 waspositioned at the front of the tractor with aline going through a snatch block down atthe V-50’s rear spade and then hooked upto the tractor’s front axle. As the tanker

came over, the V-50 was in position tohook up to the casualty and tow it away.

“ I didn’t disappoint the state police witha recovery time of only one hour, just asmy heavy-duty Vulcan units don’t disap-point me,” John said. “My operators swearby them.”

OOPS THERE GOES ANOTHER ONE

At a building construction site near thefoot of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, badwent to worse when a tracked excavatorweighing 130,000 lbs. sunk up to the caband another 100,000-lb. excavator dis-patched to help met the same fate. Withboth units now buried, it was time to callthe professionals. Doug Yates WreckerService responded with their 9908 60-tonand 9909 70-ton Challenger rotators andproceeded to hook to the first excavator

using a pair of CAT dozers as deadmen.With the rigging complete, in no time thetwo powerful Challenger recovery unitshad both excavators back on high groundand working.

Co-owner Shannon Yates said, “We relyon our Challengers to handle the toughestrecoveries, from heavy construction equip-ment to overturned tractor-trailers. Our cus-tomers know they can in turn depend on usto get their equipment back on the job.”


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 13

Industry NewsPaul Craze, Miller Industries Auto LoadSpecialist, and John Hawkins, Vice President ofHeavy-Duty Sales, explain the operation andcapabilities of towing and recovery equipmentto a group of transportation and law enforce-ment professionals at the National CapitolRegion Incident Management and HomelandSecurity conference in Washington, D.C.Woody Herring of Willow Springs Towing andRecovery in Fairfax, Virginia, and Ray Hodge ofHighway Garage Inc. in Fredericksburg,Virginia, brought up Woody’s Century 1060Srotator for display alongside other emergencyresponse equipment — from a mobile fire com-mand center to a helicopter. Gay Rochester ofRochester Imarc also spoke to the group duringthe event. Miller Industries’ goal was to helptraffic and law enforcement understand thecapabilities professional towers have to clear anincident and keep traffic flowing. The forumalso provided a great opportunity to explain thelarge investment in equipment and trainingrequired by towing companies, which will helpthe industry’s efforts to gain recognition andrespect for the services provided.


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The Cause ContinuesBy Randy Olson

It was exciting to see the positive reac-tion at the Baltimore tow show to the“Wall of the Fallen Memorial” which isbeing donated by the Miller FamilyFoundation to the International Towingand Recovery Hall of Fame and Museumand to the towing industry. I was alsooverwhelmed by the support behind thestart of the Survivor Fund, which will offerfinancial support to the families that havelost a loved one in a tragic accident whileassisting the motoring public. Havinggrown up in a towing business, this allhits very close to home. My father was hittwice at the scene of accidents in his tow-ing career and I was hit once by a drunk-en driver, which totalled the tow truck andlanded me in physical therapy for over ayear with back and neck injuries. I con-sidered myself lucky to only have beeninjured, which happens to so many of usin this industry, and not killed. Due to myinjuries, my physician recommended thatI find another line of work, so I shifted mydream of taking over the family businessand was fortunate enough to find a placein this great industry.

Everyday towing professionals puttheir lives on the line to keep traffic andcommerce flowing while assisting strand-ed motorists. It is about time that thelevel of awareness of the general publicis raised for the heroic efforts and dan-gers that towers take by putting them-selves in harm’s way, and that we honor

those who have made the ultimate sacri-fice. The Wall of the Fallen will be a last-ing place of honor and remembrance topreserve the names of those profession-al towers who have been killed in the lineof duty. I encourage everyone involved inour industry, from suppliers to towers, tounite behind this cause.


Miller Industries thanks all of those individuals at the Balitimore show who purchased over2,000 wrist bands. The Survivor Fund wrist bands are just a small way of remembering ourheroes and offering some financial help to their loved ones. We are looking forward to seeing each of you wear your Survivor Fund wrist bands for the unveiling of the Wall of the Fallen Memorial during Towfest in Chattanooga on September 9.

Miller Industries thanks Rush Peterbilt, Lee Smith, International Truck,Freightliner of Chattanooga, Freightliner, Eaton, Cummins Engine, D. P.Winch, Phoenix USA, Quality Industries, BA Products and InterstateMachine for their early and generous support of the Survivor Fund.

The Survivor Fund wrist bands is one small way of helping remember those heroes and offering some financial help to their loved ones. I encourage everyone involved

in our industry from suppliers to towers to unite behind this cause. If you would like to make a contribution or purchase Survivor Fund wrist bands,

visit the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Web site at www.internationaltowingmuseum.org or call 423-267-3132. For information on the unveiling of the Wall of the Fallen and Towfest, go to www.towfest.com.


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CENTURY®

8503 Hilltop DriveOoltewah TN 37363www.millerind.com800-292-0330

You’re ready for the big day. Excited and scared at the same time. Doesn’t mat-ter if it’s your first race or your fifteenth. But the one thing you know is yourequipment is ready too because it’s Century. With over 10 major race tracksrelying on Century towing equipment to handle those million dollar cars, youknow you’ve got the best.

Whethe i

RelieThat


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mat-youracksyou

Whether you’re recovering a wrecked race car on the track or a rolled tanker onthe interstate, your Century equipment will always be ready for you.

Relied on by more towing companies than any other brand. That’s why we’re #1.


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All Chain Attachments Are Not Created EqualBy Tom Luciano

Recently I had the privilege of assist-ing a very experienced tower inspec’ing out his new heavy-duty unit.The question came up about what addi-tional equipment, forks, and attach-ments he would need. As we wentdown the list, he agreed on most of theitems until we came to the chain hookadapters. He commented that since wehad hook end caps for the cross baralong with a pair of fork riser bracketsthat also had grab hooks attached, hav-ing chain hook adapters wouldn’t bemuch more beneficial. I explained tohim that different chain attachmentsvary, just like lifting forks, and somework better than others for specificuses. For further explanation on how touse chain hook adapters, I took thetower to a nearby trucking company.

Ironically, the trucking company had atractor equipped with a product pumpthat was just brought in by another towingservice. A taillight was torn off the back ofa Mack tractor as a result of the tow. (SeePhoto 1). This is because the wrong toolor attachment was used. Some of you

may be quick to figure out that the angleiron used by all of us at some time oranother caused the taillight on the right tobreak. This can be avoided by removing

the taillights, but let’s face it, operatorsfind that this is not always easy. Bolts canbe rusty, hard to remove, difficult to reachand time-consuming.


1

Lifting the rear axle using forks can cause problems by having to raise the vehicle to anexcessive height.


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An operator may try to fork the rearaxle, but with the offset rear differential itis often a challenge to position a forkbetween the spring and housing on theright side. Another potential problemwhen you fork the rear axle and raise theunit is the rear drive is lifted but the frontrear axle lowers because of the centertrunion pivot. With this hookup, you haveto lift the unit excessively high or you riskthe possibility of squaring off the frontdrive tires if they hit the ground. Or, youcan always take additional time to chainup the front axle. In many cases this can-not be accomplished because a sub-frame that is used on many dump trucks,garbage packers, bucket trucks or vanbodies with pull-out ramps makes it diffi-cult to get chains over the top of theframe. And you need to be cautious ofheight clearances in the case of liftingthe unit too high, especially with boxvans. An operator may try to use thechain end caps that come standard withyour unit, but the problem still exists inthis example with the interference fromthe pump jackshaft that protrudes pastthe frame rail.

So we now go back to the angle ironto support the hookup chains and weare back to the taillight issues (Photo 2).The next possibility may be the use ofthe fork riser bracket (Photo 3). This isa good possibility because it will allowyou to position the risers on the ends ofthe frame rails and also gives clearanceto the jackshaft. Notice what I did toeliminate the possibility of the riserssliding while in tow. Due to backing upthe tow truck and not being perfectlycentered on the tractor, the risers werenot evenly spaced on the crossbar. Totake up space, I turned a receiver toface upwards and placed the lock pinsin the end of the crossbar. This elimi-nated any additional movement side-ways because the riser on the right sideis positioned all the way in.

Never do any tow without the lock pinsin the end of the crossbar. As you arecoming into a corner or making a turn,receivers can slide on the crossbar andone could possibly slide off the crossbarif the lock pin isn’t in place.

See Photo 4 and the positioning ofthe chains around the frame. Noticethat they need to come out under the See All Chain Attachments on Page 20

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 19

2

3


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All Chain Attachments Continued From Page 19


CHAIN SAFETY TIPWhen using any chain-type attach-ments, always position the welded sideof the chain link to face upwards andnot in the throat of the grab hook. Justabout every grab hook tries to cut thechain when force is placed on it. Thewelded side of the chain link is theweakest side and should not be placedin contact with the hook throat.

4

5

frame and not around the side. In thisexample we are using our standardfork receivers and now installing thechain hook slide-in adapters. Theseare the perfect attachment when youneed to space the crossbar out awayfrom jackshafts, pintle hooks, ballhookups and safety chain D ringsthat are positioned on the back ofmany tractors, straight trucks anddump trucks. You are able to have alarge flat surface on the attachmentthat eliminates the possibility of rota-tion during bumps, shock loads andturns. This also allows an operator tomate the hook adapter to the frameend as is shown in this photo or arear tail plate as in Photo 5 whichtotally misses the jackshaft and the D rings found on many tractors ordump trucks.

This demonstration shows just oneexample of how chain hook adapterscan make your job easier. You areable to slide your receivers and chainhook adapters on the crossbar, andthey give you additional clearancefrom the face of the crossbar to theface of the hook adapter compared tothe fork riser brackets, which makesthe hook adapters a valuable tool formany specialty hookups.

I would like to give special thanksto Ralph Cresta, President ofNational Wrecker Service inPortsmouth, New Hampshire, for theuse of his tow truck and time for thisarticle. If you have any questions orcomments regarding this article orsuggestions for future articles, [email protected].


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The Men Behind the MagicBy Joe BrownDirector of Engineering & Quality Assurance

At Miller Industries we are focused onthe future, and we believe that the futurelies in innovative designs, improvedquality and value-added features for ourcustomers. We have a long history ofinnovation in the industry, originatingwith Holmes and continuing withCentury, Vulcan, Challenger, Chevronand Champion. Our organization has atop-down commitment to dedicatingresources to Engineering, Research andDevelopment efforts. With over 30 peo-ple in our engineering department andan annual budget of over $3,000,000,we continue to lead the industry andnever follow. Miller Industries has threedifferent engineering groups and they allinteract to provide you with the world’sfinest towing equipment.

MILLER INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT


Design TeamResponsible for initial design and computer-generatedassembly in virtual environment.

Manufacturing TeamResponsible for completion of initialdesigns including thebuilding and testing of a prototype.

Systems TeamResponsible for ensuring the resourcesare in place for real-worldmanufacturing processes.

Heavy-duty Light-duty

Tom Luciano calculates line pulls using anelectronic pull meter and counter weighton a Century 602.


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Design Engineering Teams are divid-ed into separate heavy- and light-dutygroups that focus on new product devel-opment. Each team is led by a SeniorEngineering Manager who individuallyhas more than 30 years experience in thetowing and related industries. Designengineers on each team are trained inPro-Engineer 3-D CAD design softwarethat allows them to design each part andassemble it in the virtual environment ofthe computer where fit, interference, andfunction can all be checked before anyparts are manufactured. This softwarealso allows us to perform Finite ElementAnalysis (FEA) on structures to assurethey are designed properly for the in-service loads they will experience. MillerIndustries has invested significant timeand financial resources into the purchaseof this software, the equipment to run it,and the employee training to operate it.

Manufacturing Engineering Teamstake over where the design group leavesoff with the completion of the initialdesigns. They are responsible for fixtur-ing, process design and engineeringsupport of the finished products. The 3-Dmodels they create are used by our tooldesigners who create 3-D fixtures andtooling around them. The prototypeshop, which is a part of theManufacturing Engineering Team, buildsthe fixtures and produces a prototypepart on each fixture. These prototypesare checked with a coordinate measur-ing machine and the fixture is calibratedand certified prior to release for massproduction. This team also builds andtests new production units and attach-ments in our new live test facilities beforethey are released for mass production.

The Systems Engineering Team isresponsible for creation and mainte-nance of bills of material, control of engi-neering changes, drawing and documentcontrol and manufacturing costing of thefinished product. They work with theManufacturing Engineering Team andthe Quality Assurance Team to supportthe current product and manufacturingprocesses. We feel that this division ofresponsibilities is critical to assure thatwe have ongoing support for our currentproducts while concentrating on futuredesigns and innovations.

In addition to these in-houseresources, we also have long-term rela-tionships with Mechanical Design,Industrial Design and TestingEngineering companies. We use thesecompanies for their specialized expertisein their respective fields. Representativesfrom these companies, representativesof the Engineering Department at ourlocal university, key sales and productpersonnel from within our company andrepresentatives from our distributor andcustomer base are included in ourDesign Steering Committee. This groupmeets periodically to review the status ofnew designs and advise us on technolo-gy trends, materials innovations andmarket requirements.

Of course our most valuable resource isthe professional towers who put our equip-ment to the test every day. That is one ofmany reasons we attend major tradeshows, bring in tower focus groups, andencourage towers to come visit our plants.Real world experience and customer inputplay a major role when we consider meth-ods for improving an existing product orcreating a new product.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 23

At Miller Industries, we believe that continuous improvement and development of newdesigns and innovations is critical to our continued success as an Original EquipmentManufacturer. John Cullum is one of our Senior

Design Engineering Managers. He hasbeen designing towing and recoveryequipment for the last 35 years. Johnstarted his career as an apprentice engi-neer in England, followed by an assign-ment as a designer engineer with theSwedish towing equipment manufactur-er EKA. In the 1980s, John worked forMack Truck in Australia prior to joiningVulcan Equipment Company in 1987.He was the chief engineer at Vulcanwhen Miller Industries acquired it. Johndesigned the Vulcan 940 as his firstproject and has led the design of all ofthe current Vulcan products. John iscurrently involved in development ofnew products.

Ralph McConnell, a native of EastTennessee, started his career at LorainEquipment as a designer of mobilecranes in 1975. He joined Century in1983 and designed the 20 SeriesCentury Carrier. He has since led thedesign effort for the entire line of Centuryheavy-duty integrated units and theCentury and Challenger rotator models.Ralph is a Senior Design EngineeringManager and is currently working onnew model development and testing.

MEET MEMBERS OF OUR ENGINEERING TEAM


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 25

2007 Emissions

NEW TECHNOLOGY MAY EQUAL BIGCONCERNS FOR TRUCK OWNERS

By Dayton ShepardVice President of Sales and MarketingLee-Smith Inc.

The New StandardsStringent new federal rules go into effect

January 2007 that dramatically change theemissions requirements for diesel-pow-ered vehicles. These new rules requirethat nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulatematter (PM) be reduced by 90% from 2004standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) says NOx is one of the main ingredi-ents involved in the formation of ground-level ozone. It contributes to the formation ofacid rain, to nutrient overload, (which deteri-orates water quality), and contributes tosmog and global warming.

Particulate matter is a complex mixture ofextremely small particles and liquid droplets.Particle pollution is made up of a number ofcomponents, including acids (such asnitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals,metals, and soil or dust particles. In dieselengines, PM is primarily comprised of ashfrom burned diesel fuel and oils.

Reducing NOx and PM in diesel enginesto meet these new standards can only beachieved with “clean diesel,” advancedcombustion technologies, and post-com-bustion treatment.

Clean DieselClean diesel is another name for ultra low

sulfur (diesel) fuel. Just as the federal gov-ernment eliminated lead in gasoline duringthe 1970s, they are requiring that refinerssubstantially reduce sulfur in diesel fuel. BySeptember 1, 2006, 80% of all U. S. dieselfuel must be at or below 15 parts-per-millionsulfur. In 2007, diesel engines will requireultra low sulfur fuel to reach the emissionsreductions mandated by the new standards.

2007 Diesel EnginesMost diesel manufacturers started to

make changes in their engine designs inthe late 1990s to ready themselves for themandated emissions changes ahead. In2002, engine manufacturers introducedcomponents and systems such as variablegeometry turbochargers, exhaust gas

recirculation and new advanced fuel injec-tors. These components and systemswere designed to produce efficient power-ful diesel engines that also produced low-ered emissions.

The 2007 (calendar year) engines contin-ue to refine and advance these technolo-gies. These engines are more complex dueto increased variables in the fuel manage-ment system and because they requiremore sensors associated with the exhausttrap and filter.

The engines will produce lower, almostno emissions. But fuel economy will mostlikely be reduced by at least 1% to 2%. It’sstill not clear if oil change intervals will benegatively affected, but most assume itwill. More frequent oil changes will createhigher maintenance costs on 2007 units.

Traps and FiltersWhile new 2007 diesel engines will be

“cleaner,” they need help to reach the tough2007 standards. Most engines will comewith a combination particulate trap and cat-alytic converter. The device, let’s call it a fil-ter, looks like a large muffler. There are afew important things to understand aboutthese filters.

These new filters are expensive.Replacement costs are estimated to be$3,500 to $6,000. The catalytic portion ofthe filter uses precious metal coatings toeffect control of NOx. These filters generatea great amount of heat, and because they

are larger, they take up more space and addweight. They are also a serviceable compo-nent so they will require maintenance.

The Big DecisionAll this new technology has created big

concerns for truck owners. Many large fleetshave decided to replace more trucks thanusual in 2006 to avoid the January 2007changes. Evaluate your own unique positionand consider the following:

• Due to 2007 emissions changes, truckprices are estimated to increase $3,000 to$10,000 per vehicle.

• Fuel economy is almost certain to bereduced by a minimum of 1% to 2%.

• Maintenance costs will increase. • The big question that remains unan-

swered is whether the early productionengines will be reliable.

This is new ground for all manufactur-ers. Not all are at the same stages ofdevelopment and testing. Some will beready by January 2007 and almost certain-ly some will not.

It’s time to carefully consider your vehiclereplacement schedules. Demand will behigh for new units during 2006 and suppliesof new truck chassis is expected to tighten.If your needs include replacing or addingnew units in the next 18 to 24 months, talkto your Miller distributor today. They canexplain truck and equipment options andhelp you decide when it will be best toschedule your next purchase.


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Miller Finance Advantage is Your AdvantageBy Michael PaezSenior Vice President Commercial Vehicle MarketSovereign Bank

Today’s financing rates continue to below by historical standards, but they arebeginning to trend upward. Despite thistrend, there are still opportunities to securefinancing terms that are most favorable,particularly if you approach the loanprocess with a clear understanding of yourlender’s expectations. The same care youuse in selecting your towing and recoveryequipment vendor should be applied toselecting your finance relationship. A sure-fire way to ensure you have the best ofboth can be done in one easy stopthrough your Miller Industries distributor.He can direct you to the Miller FinanceAdvantage Program, administered bySovereign Bank, which offers a widerange of products.

There are several important compo-nents of the purchase and finance processthat if followed will provide real advan-tages to the purchaser.

1. Begin by clearly identifying the type ofvehicle and body you will require for yourspecific needs. To help you do this, contactyour local distributor who will be happy toassist you in creating your personal truck

specifications. Your distributor will helpchoose what is right for you, provide youwith the exact cost of the equipment and awritten buyer’s order, which details allspecifications and component pricing.

2. If you have a truck to trade in, it isimportant to know the real value of thisvehicle before you hit the showroom floor,because your trade will impact the truecost of the new unit. Every unit has a truemarket or wholesale value, which helpsdetermine your Actual Cash Value, or ACV.It is also very important to know your pay-off amount for a trade-in. The differencebetween the value of the trade-in and thepayoff due is your equity. If the payoff isgreater than the trade-in’s value, however,there will be a shortfall, which dealers andfinance people refer to as being “upsidedown.” If you find yourself in the “upsidedown” situation, you will need to cover thisshortfall in your new purchase.

3. If you are in the market for a usedvehicle, you must consider increasedwear and tear maintenance, non-warrantyservice, the potential cost of downtime,and perhaps shorter life cycle for suchequipment. Get the total picture and thenmake comparisons. Factor any additionalcosts of the purchase to obtain a realisticoperating cost for the unit in some meas-urable increment: hourly, daily or at a min-

imum, weekly. Include fixed costs such asyour payment, insurance and mainte-nance as well as driver costs and fuelcost. With the full understanding of thetype of equipment you need, your analysisof the costs involved and your determina-tion of the anticipated useful life of thevehicle, you are now ready to move intothe financing arena.

You should be able to specify the bankor finance company of your choosing. Thechoice of this relationship is second only toyour choice of equipment. You will want towork with an experienced lender whounderstands the nuances of the towingand recovery business, and one who willlook for solutions tailored to your individualneeds. If you are in the shopping mode,you may want to consider obtaining a pre-qualification approval much the same asyou would when looking for a new home.This will give you a clear picture of whatyour borrowing capacity is and the relativeterms and conditions to expect.Depending on your overall financingneeds, you may even want to considerestablishing a line of credit with yourlender for your equipment purchases.

The loan process begins with the “nec-essary evil” of completing a full creditapplication, which all lenders require insome form, with small variations in the


Feeling handcuffed to your tow truckbecause of a large buy-out? Termlength too long on your lease orfinance? Let Miller Finance AdvantageProgram, administered by SovereignBank, customize a program for yourspecific needs – and break free ofthat “locked in” feeling.


026-027_247v0201finance 2/13/06 3:47 PM

information needed. It is important thatyou provide the lender a complete andhonest representation of your businessinformation.

• Supply your complete legal businessname in full as it appears on your state andfederal filings along with your tax ID num-ber. It is truly amazing the number of creditapplicants who do not know or remembertheir legal business name or know whattype of entity it is, whether it is a corporation,partnership, LLC or sole-proprietorship.

• Provide personal information for eachof the business owners. Complete disclo-sure is critical to a lender’s evaluation, andall owners who have a financial interest orshareholding interest in the businessshould provide their credit information andexpect to be called upon as a guarantor.

Lenders have different levels of informa-tion disclosure required based upon thedollar amount of your financing request.Under the terms of the Miller FinanceAdvantage program, qualified applicantscan obtain financing up to $150,000 on anapplication only. If your finance needsexceed that amount, full financial disclo-sure is required which translates to taxreturns for both the business and the guar-antors. This seemingly routine require-ment necessitates that you start recordkeeping early. The use of a basic book-keeping software package will keep youorganized and help you establish the disci-pline to manage your affairs and to allowyour financial advisor to complete and fileyour returns on a timely basis. Secondly,good record keeping will allow you tonegotiate better terms with lenders, as youare clearly able to demonstrate the realperformance of your business.

• Once your lender has completed thereview of your application, they will rendera credit decision. You can often get thisdecision within a day if you have provided

a complete application. The lender repre-sentative should provide a finance quotethat is detailed and in writing, and it shouldspell out what is due up front, monthly andat the end of the term. Of particular con-cern should be the end of term “buy back”or “residual.” Most contractors today optfor fully amortizing their loans in order toown the equipment at the end of the term.Many low-rate deals quote only the rateduring the term of the contract and don’ttake into consideration the residual pay-ment due at the end, which can be sub-stantially higher than the value of the vehi-cle at the end of the term. If the dealseems too good to be true, there are prob-ably some questions you need to ask

before you proceed. Check the “hidden”costs of a contract as well, such as costsassociated with extra mileage or onerousearly termination fees. Before you sign,ensure the document matches what, howmuch and how long you agreed to finance.

A buyer who has done his homeworkand is clear on the total cost of his newinvestment will truly get the best price andterms. The choice to buy is an importantone and so is the choice of finance partner.Your Miller distributor and your SovereignBank representative are always availableto assist you in every facet of the pur-chase, from selecting the right equipmentto customizing the finance package that isright for you.

On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 27

I started my towing business in 1999 andtried several different finance companiesbefore I started to work with SovereignBank through my local Miller distributor.The paperwork is quick and easy and Iknow I am dealing with someone who isknowledgeable about both the towingbusiness and the equipment. I don’tthink there is a better option available for a towing company today.

William NeedlePresident

Assured Collision Inc.

• To avoid being in an “upside down”position with any equipment purchaseand financing, it is important to match therealistic useful life of the equipment tothe finance contract term. The term ofyour financing should take into accountyour usage of your equipment. Actualequipment lives differ for everyone, andthe higher the utilization (hours and daysper week on the road) of the equipment,the shorter the finance term should be.

• To get the most favorable financingavailable for you, it is critical to guardyour credit profile and manage yourfinancial performance. In this era of rapidinformation, identity theft is increasing.Check your credit report regularly, andbe sure to request that any inaccurate oroutdated information is cleared up beforeyou set out to make any major purchase.If you do have derogatory history, it isimportant to disclose this to your lenderup front along with a full explanation.Full and honest disclosure is important to

a lender’s evaluation of your specific sit-uation and may allow for some discretionon the part of the lender.

• There are great payoffs to keepinggood financial records. They will tell youif you are really operating at a profit,detail your actual costs, and give you agood overview of your profit level. It isnot uncommon to find contractors per-forming work and billing for their servicesonly to be paid 30, 60 or even 90 days ormore after the fact or not be paid at all.Every day you are not paid you have pro-vided financing for your customer at nocost to them and at a real cost to yourbusiness in terms of lost opportunity forthe cash and a direct impact on yourcash flow. Knowing your real cost percall, per mile, and per hour of operationdirectly correlates to the rates youcharge for each type of service. Newequipment can pay off in tangible ways ifyou know the true cost of operating it andyou price your service accordingly.

e

IMPORTANT TIPS


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2006 FLORIDA TOW SHOWWALT DISNEY WORLD, ORLANDO, FLORIDAMAY 11 - 14

Thursday May 117 p.m.PRE-SHOW KICKOFF PARTYFood, drinks and entertainment8 p.m.BRAINSTORMING WITH THE PROS UNDER THE STARS by Tom LucianoIncludes live demonstrations

Friday May 1210 a.m.DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY INCLUDING:

• Basic Rotator Operations• Carrier Recovery Demonstration• The Latest in Light-Duty Towing Equipment Technology• Hookup Tips & Techniques• 50,000-lb. Counterweight Demonstration• Medium-Duty Equipment Updates• Heavy-Duty Recoveries• And a Few More Surprises You Won’t Want to Miss

7 p.m.MILLER INDUSTRIES CUSTOMER APPRECIATION NIGHTFood, drinks and entertainment8 p.m.BRAINSTORMING WITH THE PROS UNDER THE STARS by Tom LucianoIncludes live demonstrations

Saturday May 1310 a.m.DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Stop by the Miller Booth to receive your printed schedule of demonstrations and times for both Friday and Saturday.

David Harris AKA “Magic Boy” will also be performingthroughout the day.

2006 WESTERN STATES TOW SHOWSILVER LEGACY RESORT & CASINORENO, NEVADAJUNE 1 - 3

Thursday June 15 - 7 p.m.TRADE SHOW KICK OFFDemonstrations and Recovery Videos

Friday June 211 a.m.- 4 p.m.TRADE SHOW AND PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS5 p.m.RECOVERY ROUND UP & BARBECUEIncludes a live recovery demonstration in the middle ofdowntown Reno

Saturday June 311 a.m. - 3 p.m.TRADE SHOW AND PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS

TOWFESTCHATTANOOGA, TNSEPT. 7 - 10

Live Demonstrations, Factory Tours, Entertainment, Wall of the Fallen Unveiling.Keep your calendar dates open and watch for moreinformation and schedules in the coming months.


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On Call 24/7 1-800-292-0330 29

New ProductsROUND ’EM UP WITHCHEVRON’S OUTLAW

Chevron’s all new OUTLAW series is ideally suited for highvolume towing, impound and repossession work. The boomand hydraulic auto load system allow the tower to operate theunit from the safety and convenience of the cab, exiting onlyto install safety chains, straps and tow lights. Parallel-parkedvehicles can easily be picked up at a 90-degree angle oncrowded city streets or parking lots.

The OUTLAW features all new high-impact-resistant com-posite modular body sides with large, spacious tool compart-ments for ample storage. For more information on the OUT-LAW, call Chevron at 800-886-6400 or visit your localChevron distributor.

CHEVRON’S SLIDEWINDER OFFERS GREATERFLEXIBILITY

As more vehicles are equipped with screw-in eyehookattachments located at one side, getting a straight-line pullfrom the winch cable to the disabled vehicle has becomemore difficult, even with the use of a snatch block. Chevron’sSlideWinder option allows you to maintain a straight-line pullonto your carrier deck. The SlideWinder planetary winch ismounted on one end of a horizontal slide track with a vertical-ly-mounted pulley on the opposite end of the track to promoteeven spooling of the cable onto the winch drum. A sliding rollerguide is moved along the slide track by a double-acting bi-directional hydraulic cylinder that is ported through one rodend to eliminate moving hydraulic hoses. The free spoolwinch release handle is easily accessible and can be orderedwith air-free spool on air-equipped trucks. The SlideWinderassembly bolts to the front of your Chevron carrier deck andcan be used with a deck-mounted or stationary cab protector.For more information, contact Chevron at 800-886-6400 orvisit your local Chevron distributor.

TUBULAR LIGHT PYLONNOW STANDARD

A brushed aluminum tubular light pylon is now standard onCentury’s Midnight Express and Vulcan’s Intruder series ofself-loaders equipped with a high-impact and corrosion-resist-ant composite body. The new pylon, available in 33-inch orwith a spacer kit for 36-inch applications, provides better rearvisibility, includes three center LED ID lights built in and has asleeker appearance. A similar design of the aluminum tubularlight pylon is also available on Century’s 60-ton rotators.


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Miller RocksBaltimore Again!

If you attended the American TowmanShow in Baltimore this year, “MillerRocks” was the place to be Fridayevening for some fun, laughter andcamaraderie. Saturday and Sunday thevenue changed to the show floor whereattendees spilled out of the MillerIndustries booth into the aisles to listento presentations and view the finest tow-ing and recovery equipment availablefrom the Industry Leader.


The Century, Vulcan and Chevron booths were loaded with the latest advancements and tech-nology in towing and recovery equipment. Along with viewing the products, Miller engineersand manufacturing personnel were on hand to answer questions and exchange ideas andconcepts with the professional towers who operate the products everyday.

Some of the guests tore up the dance floor, while everyone got the opportunity to enjoy thesounds of the Kevin Kline Band that performed during “Miller Rocks” Friday evening.

At Miller Industries we believe the best way to explain what our products can do for you is bydemonstrating their capabilities. This presents a challenge at an indoor show such asBaltimore, so we resort to the next best thing, “Virtual Demonstrations.” John Hawkinsexplains the operation and features of a Miller heavy-duty unit to the crowd with the aid of avideo showing actual recovery footage. Other presenters included Tom Luciano on heavy-duties, Paul Craze on auto loads, and Fred Grueber on carriers. A picture is worth a thousandwords and the pictures of our equipment in action speak for themselves.

Baltimore’s cold weather didn’t slow a record crowd of over 1,300 towers from packing theHard Rock Cafe and adjoining Hard Rock Party Barge for what has become the numberone-attended event at the American Towman Show. Towers were treated to MillerIndustries legendary hospitality that included some delicious food, great music, a little bitof magic and the chance to socialize with Miller factory representatives and fellow towers.

Guests braved the cool tempera-tures to receive their commemora-tive “Miller Rocks at The HardRock” T-shirt. The “Miller Rocks”T-shirts have become one of themost coveted souvenirs of theshow season.


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031_247v0201intl 2/13/06 4:12 PM

Innovative. Durable. Brutally Tough.

Versatile. Powerful. Vulcan equipment. It’s what

you need – no matter what the job. Self-loaders.

Car carriers. Towing and Recovery units big or

small. Vulcan equipment is built to get the job

done – no matter what it requires.

Call (800) 489-2401 or visit www.millerind.com to locate the distributor nearest you.


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2/13/06 3:26 PM Page 1 ON CALL 24/7 - Miller Industries

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