Towing industry leaders team up to bring cutting edge training, tools and techniques to towing and recovery professionals around the country.
Two towing and recovery industry leaders have announced a new partnership aimed at elevating the level of proficiency and professionalism throughout the industry.
WreckMaster, a training organization with headquarters in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Beamsville, Ontario, has already begun providing live training to customers of AW Direct, a supplier to the towing and recovery industry since 1979. Additionally, WreckMaster will be producing helpful articles and videos for AW Direct’s website that is in the process of being redeveloped.
This formal partnership has been five years in the making, AW Direct’s Michele Smedberg points out. AW Direct has been selling a variety of WreckMaster products for years, including training DVDs and handbooks, inspection forms, straps, wear pads, buckles, T-shirts and more.
“AW Direct and WreckMaster share the same philosophy: Towers are number one and their safety is of utmost concern,” Smedberg says. “Quality education and products go hand in hand. We’re a perfect match.”
“Our mission has always been to serve as a coach to the industry and help towers run their businesses better,” adds Justin Cruse, president of WreckMaster. “Working with a reputable supplier like AW Direct is a great fit.”
“We consider it an honor to be partnered with an organization like WreckMaster,” adds Ginger King, president of Ariens Specialty Brands, parent company of AW Direct. “We at Ariens Specialty Brands strive to partner with other leaders that help set the tone for quality, consistency and professionalism in their industries. When it comes to towing and recovery, WreckMaster is definitely helping to lead the way.”
Cutting its teeth in Chicago
The AW Direct/WreckMaster alliance has been on full display this summer. WreckMaster trainers have been conducting monthly training events in the Chicago area since May. Topics have ranged from working with hybrid vehicles to towing road tractors. The events, offered by AW Direct, are free to attend by towing professionals throughout Chicagoland.
One towing professional who attended a training event in July said, “It was great! There were a lot of things we didn’t know and didn’t realize we weren’t doing right. Now we will. The guys who went with me were surprised that the amount of information provided was free.”
Training the industry for 26 years
Aside from the work it is doing with AW Direct, WreckMaster holds roughly 200 training events a year as part of its broader certification program. "These two-day classes include both a training course and certification class," Cruse explains. Attendees pay roughly $500 for these more extensive training events.
WreckMaster also does some training work in conjunction with various state towing industry associations. As Cruse points out, WreckMaster just wants the ability to deliver its valuable training to as many towing professionals as possible. Alliances with associations and suppliers like AW Direct greatly assist in the dissemination of that training.
WreckMaster was founded in 1991 to help satisfy the towing industry’s desire to be recognized as a professionally skilled trade. Its thorough educational system is now offered at more than 200 training locations across the U.S. and Canada. WreckMaster has 16 lead instructors that can deliver its curriculum.
“Our instructor training and accreditation program (ITAP) was developed in 2005,” Cruse points out. “All trainers first go through an apprenticeship-type program to work their way up to lead instructor.”
Over the past 26 years, those instructors have helped deliver WreckMaster training to more than 40,000 towing operators. It’s a feat Justin Cruse is quite proud of—as he should be. But he recognizes that there’s still a ways to go.
“We’re excited about our partnership with AW Direct,” Cruse adds. “They’ve been around a long time and have a lot of loyal customers. Many of those customers have been in the industry a long time.”
“The great thing about our training is that it is very empowering—whether you’ve been in the towing industry for 10 days or 10 years,” Cruse continues. “You might learn a new or more efficient technique, or simply get some validation that the way you’ve been doing it is the correct way. Either way, there’s a level of pride that exists among towers who complete a WreckMaster course. That’s what I love most.”
Since 1979, AW Direct® has been a trusted supplier and partner to the towing and recovery industry. The company offers a wide selection of professional-grade products that are competitively priced and 100% guaranteed. Ordering is easy, shipping is fast, and expert service is knowledgeable and responsive. Visit AWDirect.com for more information
AW Direct, together with sister companies Ben Meadows® and Gempler’s®, form the Ariens Specialty Brands unit of Ariens Company. Based in Brillion, WI, Ariens Company is a privately owned and operated corporation focused on outdoor products that serve the needs of both consumer and professional customers. Established in 1933, the company manufactures original outdoor power equipment under the Ariens®, Gravely®, Sno-Tek®, Countax® and Westwood® brands. Visit ariensco.com for more information.
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