DRIVER S MANUAL FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVER S ENDORSEMENT

Transcription

1 Suppement To DRIVER S MANUAL FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVER S ENDORSEMENT MV-14 (5/15)

2 -i- TABLE OF CONTENTS Note to the Reader page v Chapter 1 - Introduction page 1 How Do I Obtain a Tow Truck Endorsement? page 2 Tow truck Hazardous Materias Chapter 2 - Types of Tow Trucks page 3 A. Tow Trucks page 3 Light-duty tow truck Medium-duty tow truck Heavy-duty tow truck B. Car Carriers page 3 Car carrier Chapter 3 - Tow Truck and Equipment Limitations page 5 A. Tow Truck Ratings page 6 Gross vehice weight rating (GVWR) Gross axe weight rating (GAWR) Curb weight Overhang (OH) Safe towing capacity (STC) Front axe weight (FAW) Wheebase (WB) B. Tire Capacity page 8 C. Equipment Capacities page 8 Breaking strength rating Working oad imit (WLL) Chapter 4 - Tow Truck Parts and Equipment page 10 A. Booms page 10 Boom Mast

3 -ii- B. Winches page 10 Winch Auxiiary winch Drag winch Power takeoff (PTO) C. Cabe (Stee Wire Rope) page 11 Cabe Wrap Swage Thimbe Wedge socket Sheaves D. Snatch Bocks page 12 Snatch bock E. Chains page 12 Chain grade or strength rating F. Towing Devices page 13 Tow sing Truck hitch Tow hitch Whee-ift Underift Securing devices G. Doies page 14 Doy H. Tow Truck Lights page 14 Hazard ight(s) Auxiiary tow ights Drag ights Work ights Chapter 5 - Light-Duty Safe Towing Practices page 16 A. Before You Tow page 16 B. Towing with a Whee-Lift page 18 Whee chock L-arm/whee arm Whee straps Whee securing devices

4 -iii- C. Towing with a Sing or Truck Hitch page 20 T-hook Grab hook J-hook Safety wrap Air dam Fascia Spoier Spacer bock D. During the Tow page 22 Genera Rues and Responsibiities For Safety page 23 Chapter 6 - Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Safe Towing Practices page 24 A. Genera Hook-Up Procedures page 24 Driveine Axe cover B. Towing Trucks or Tractors from the Rear page 25 Forks Cross-member C. Towing Trucks, Tractors, or Tractor-Traier Combinations from the Front page 26 D. During the Tow page 27 Genera Rues and Responsibiities For Safety page 27 Chapter 7 - Car Carriers page 29 A. Loading a Vehice page 29 Bed ocks Rear bed stabiizer Bride B. During Transport page 31 C. Unoading a Vehice page 31 Genera Rues and Responsibiities for Safety page 33 Headboard Gossary page 34

5 -iv- If you have questions about any of the information contained in this booket, pease contact the Department of Motor Vehices at the appropriate number isted beow. 212, 347, 646, 718, 917, 929: -or- Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

6 -v- NOTE TO THE READER THE WRITTEN TEST FOR TOW TRUCK ENDORSEMENT CONTAINS QUESTIONS FROM ALL PARTS OF THIS BOOKLET. BE SURE TO READ AND STUDY THE ENTIRE BOOKLET BEFORE TAKING THE WRITTEN TEST. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW YORK STATE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, AND WITH FEDERAL AND STATE SAFETY REGULATIONS.

7 -1- CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION This chapter wi define a tow truck and describe the types of icenses and endorsement(s) necessary to drive a tow truck. Terms expained in this chapter: tow truck; gross combination weight rating (GCWR). Section 148(b) of the Vehice and Traffic Law defines a tow truck as [a] motor vehice that tows or carries a disabed, iegay parked or abandoned motor vehice or a motor vehice invoved in an accident. As of January 22, 1995, the aw requires that a tow truck driver have a specia endorsement ("W") on his or her driver icense in order to drive a tow truck. The cass of icense you need depends on the gross vehice weight rating (GVWR) of your truck, and on the GVWR of the heaviest vehice that you tow with your truck. The gross combination weight rating (GCWR) is the GVWR of the tow truck, pus the GVWR of the vehice being towed (see Diagram 1, Chapter 3, page 6). If the vehice you tow has a GVWR of over 10,000 pounds, and the gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of this vehice and your tow truck is more than 26,000 pounds, you need a Cass A icense with a tow truck endorsement ("W"). If the GCWR of your tow truck and the towed vehice does not exceed this weight imit, you wi need at east a Non-CDL Cass C icense with a tow truck endorsement ("W"). A car carrier can aso be considered to be a tow truck. If you drive a car carrier with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds, you need at east a Cass B icense. If your car carrier has the abiity to tow a vehice of over 10,000 pounds GVWR behind it, and the GCWR of your car carrier and this vehice is more than 26,000 pounds, you need a Cass A icense. More information about driver icense casses and icense endorsements can be found on form MV-500C, Driver License Cass Descriptions ( HOW TO REACH A DMV CALL CENTER: In the New York City metropoitan area: From area codes 212, 347, 646, 718, 917, 929: or Weekdays except state hoidays: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. From area codes 516, 631, 845, 914: Weekdays except state hoidays: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. From a other area codes in New York State: Weekdays except state hoidays: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

8 HOW DO I OBTAIN A TOW TRUCK ENDORSEMENT? If you currenty have a Cass D or E icense, you must obtain at east a Non-CDL Cass C icense (see NOTE beow) and take a written test for the towing endorsement ("W"). If you have a Cass A, B, C, or Non-CDL Cass C icense, you have to take ony the written test for the towing endorsement ("W"). If you are appying for a Cass A, B or C commercia driver icense (CDL) you shoud get the New York State Commercia Driver s Manua (CDL-10) from a DMV office or ca center, or on the DMV web site at: The Commercia Driver s Manua describes the requirements necessary to obtain a CDL. -2- Information about the required certifications for origina or renewa CDL appicants can be found on the DMV website at: If you must take a road test, it is advisabe to obtain a permit and take the test in the argest vehice you are capabe of driving. The best vehice to take the test in is a tractor-traier combination because, if you pass a road test in a tractor-traier, you wi be issued a icense with no restrictions. However, if you take the test in a tow truck, or a truck-traier combination, your icense wi have a truck-traier restriction ("O") based on the weight rating (GVWR) of the towing vehice. In addition to the above, you may aso be subject to aws and reguations administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and we encourage you to earn more about them by visiting the department s website at: Hazardous Materias. You are not required to have a hazardous materia endorsement (H). However, there may be times when you wi be caed upon to tow a vehice that contains hazardous materias under circumstances when it woud normay be necessary to have an "H" endorsement. Under federa aw, you can tow a vehice containing hazardous materias without such an endorsement under "emergency" conditions. This is generay interpreted to authorize a tow from the scene of a disabement to a garage or pace of safety. To hep you prepare for this type of situation, you shoud review the Hazardous Materias Manua (CDL-11), which is avaiabe in a Motor Vehices offices. NOTE: Effective 7/26/05, a Cass D icense is vaid to operate vehices for which a Non-CDL C icense was previousy required. Appicants for an origina Non-CDL C icense wi receive a Cass D icense; however, appicants seeking Farm (F) (G), and/or Tow Truck (W) endorsements wi continue to receive a Non-CDL C icense unti programming changes are compete. A Gossary of tow truck terminoogy is provided on pages of this manua.

9 -3- CHAPTER 2 - TYPES OF TOW TRUCKS This chapter describes tow trucks (incuding car carriers) by weight and body type. Terms expained in this chapter: ight-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty tow trucks; car carrier. A. TOW TRUCKS Tow trucks are generay cassified by weight (ight-duty, medium-duty or heavy-duty) and by body type (tow-ony or car carrier). Characteristics by weight are as foows: 1. Light-Duty: Light-duty tow trucks have a GVWR of 8,600 to 10,000 pounds. They are designed to tow or transport automobies, pickup trucks and sma vans. 2. Medium-Duty: Medium-duty tow trucks have a GVWR of 10,001 to 26,000 pounds. They can tow or transport medium-size trucks, buses and recreationa vehices, as we as smaer vehices. 3. Heavy-Duty: Heavy-duty tow trucks have a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds. They are designed to tow or transport arge buses, trucks, traiers and heavy construction equipment. B. CAR CARRIERS Car carriers are designed to transport one to three motor vehices on a fat patform that sides or tits to the ground to faciitate the oading and unoading of the vehice(s). In addition, they are generay equipped with a whee-ift or underift that enabes them to tow an additiona vehice behind them. Car carriers are sometimes referred to as sidebacks, robacks, equipment transporters, or fatbeds. Car carriers are up to 40 feet in ength, bumper to bumper, incuding bed oad. They generay transport (and tow) automobies, pickup trucks and sma vans, athough arge car carriers (often referred to as equipment transporters) transport arge vehices, farm machinery and construction equipment. Car carriers are aso often used to transport vehices that woud be damaged by conventiona towing techniques, or vehices with severe whee damage. NOTE: Refer to the chart tited Tow Truck/Car Carrier Cassification, on page 4, pubished by the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Inc.

10 -4- TOW TRUCK CAR CARRIER TOW TRUCKS TOW TRUCK LOW BOY TRAILER CAR CARRIER Information provided by Towing and Recovery Association of America Inc., adapted Sponsored by Tow Times Magazine.

11 -5- CHAPTER 3 - TOW TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT LIMITATIONS The purpose of this manua is to expain how to perform proper towing procedures, and to hep ensure your safety when you tow. This chapter wi define various ratings that are used to determine safe towing capacity for tow trucks and working oad imits for equipment that is generay used in towing operations. Terms expained in this chapter: gross vehice weight rating (GVWR); gross axe weight rating (GAWR); curb weight; overhang (OH); safe towing capacity (STC); front axe weight (FAW); wheebase (WB); breaking strength rating; and working oad imit (WLL). The most common cause of accidents that ead to death of and injury to tow truck operators is equipment faiure. In the vast majority of cases, these accidents are caused by exceeding working oad imits for this equipment. Pay specia attention to the manufacturer's equipment ratings, which indicate the imits for its use. When you exceed the rating posted on your equipment, you, not the manufacturer, wi be at faut if the equipment fais. Exceeding equipment ratings can aso put you and others at risk of injury or death. You shoud never exceed the working oad imit set by the manufacturer. Even a one-time overoad can cause undetected damage, weakening the equipment significanty, and causing equipment faiure that can resut in injury or death. Your abiity to tow propery and safey is imited by the weakest component on your tow truck. For exampe, if a tow truck that is rated for 16 tons operates with L-arms that are rated for ony 2 tons, the L-arm is a weak ink. NEVER EXCEED THE RATING OF THE WEAKEST LINK. The rest of this chapter describes how tow trucks and their equipment are generay rated.

12 -6- A. TOW TRUCK RATINGS The most widey recognized rating for tow trucks (or any other type of truck) is the manufacturer's gross vehice weight rating (GVWR). This rating consists of the unaden (unoaded or "curb") weight of a vehice, pus the maximum carrying capacity recommended by the vehice s manufacturer. The axes on a truck are aso rated. A truck's gross axe weight rating (GAWR) is the amount of weight that a singe axe, or a combination of axes, is designed to carry. The tota GAWR for a axes equas the truck's GVWR (see Diagram 1 beow). For exampe, a tow truck might have a GVWR of 27,500 pounds, with the front axe(s) rated at 9,000 pounds, and the rear axe(s) rated at 18,500 pounds. But to use this information to gauge the oad you can tow, you aso need to know the unoaded weight of the truck (sometimes referred to as the "curb weight"). Suppose that the truck in the exampe above has a curb weight of approximatey 17,000 pounds, with 7,000 pounds on the front axe(s) and 10,000 pounds on the rear axe(s). This means that the rear axe(s) shoud be abe to ift a weight of 8,500 pounds (18,500 pounds GAWR, ess 10,000 pounds unoaded, or curb, weight), as ong as this weight wi not exceed the safe towing capacity (see Diagram 1 beow). DIAGRAM 1 Exampe of tow truck chassis oads that operators shoud keep within ratings Internationa Institute of Towing & Recovery (IITR): Towing and Recovery with Light-Duty Equipment, Unit 1, p. 22, adapted.

13 -7- In actuaity, the safe towing capacity (STC - see Diagram 2 beow) of a tow truck is consideraby ess than its GAWR. So you must not ony stay within the rating, but you must aso stay within the safe towing capacity for your truck. Manufacturers' ratings assume that the weight, or oad, is being paced directy over the rear axe(s). With a tow truck, the weight (that is, the vehice being ifted) is actuay being paced at various distances behind the rear axe(s). As this distance (caed "overhang") increases, the safe towing capacity of the tow truck decreases. Overhang is measured from the center of the ift point to the center of the rear axe(s) of the tow truck. This is because a tow truck acts ike a see-saw. As a oad becomes heavier, or moves further away from the rear axe(s), it tends to ift the front axe off the ground. When the amount of weight on the front axe decreases by fifty per cent, it is no onger safe to tow. This is because steering and braking are adversey affected by this front axe weight oss. Therefore, the safe towing capacity (STC) may be defined as the amount of weight or oad that does not cause more than a 50% oss of the origina unoaded front axe weight (FAW). A mathematica formua has been devised for the purpose of cacuating this maximum weight or oad. To use this formua, you must know your truck's front axe weight [FAW - the curb weight of the front axe], its wheebase [WB - the distance from the centerine of the front axe to the centerine of the rear axe(s)] and its overhang (OH - as defined above). The formua is as foows [Note: The x means mutipied by, and the "/" means "divided by".]: (FAW x WB / OH) / 2 = STC Using this formua, and assuming a wheebase of 200 inches and an overhang of 89 inches, the safe towing capacity (STC) of the 27,500 pound GVWR truck discussed on page 7, with a curb front axe weight of 7,000 pounds, is ony 7,865 pounds [(7,000 x 200/89)/2]. If its overhang were increased to 125 inches, its STC woud be reduced to 5,600 pounds [(7,000 x 200/125)/2]. If its wheebase were decreased to 165 inches, its STC woud be reduced to 6,488 pounds [(7,000 x 165/89)/2]. Safe towing capacity is affected by changing any of the factors used in this formua. You must fuy understand this concept, particuary if you intend to operate a tow truck with a whee-ift or underift. DIAGRAM 2 FRONT AXLE WEIGHT WHEELBASE (INCHES) OVERHANG (INCHES) (Front Axe Weight x Wheebase/Overhang) / 2 = Safe Towing Capacity (FAW x WB / OH) / 2 = STC Internationa Institute of Towing & Recovery (IITR), adapted.

14 -8- B. TIRE CAPACITY Manufacturers consider tire capacity in determining gross vehice weight ratings (GVWR). For this reason, you shoud never use tires that do not meet manufacturer s specifications, and you shoud aways keep your tires propery infated. Be sure to check tire pressure when the tires are cod. A discrepancy of five to ten pounds of pressure can affect the carrying capacity of a tow truck, particuary when using a whee-ift or underift. Tire capacity becomes increasingy important when operating near the design capacity of your tow truck. This is particuary true with singeaxe tow trucks that are used in heavy-duty towing operations. C. EQUIPMENT CAPACITIES The equipment on a tow truck (that is, winches, cabe, chain and snatch bocks) is aso rated. Generay speaking, equipment carries two ratings: a breaking strength rating and a working oad imit. The breaking strength rating is estabished by the manufacturer as the maximum weight or oad that new, unused equipment can bear, under idea aboratory conditions, without being damaged. The working oad imit (WLL) is the maximum weight or oad that equipment (aowing for reasonabe wear and tear) can bear under norma operating conditions. In a cases, the working oad imit is consideraby ower than the breaking strength rating. For exampe, most chains, cabes and snatch bocks have working oad imits of either 3 to 1 or 4 to 1. This means that the working oad imit is either one-third or one-quarter of the breaking strength rating. Therefore, a chain with a 3 to 1 rating and a breaking strength rating of 18,000 pounds can be used to ift a oad of 6,000 pounds. It is important to reaize that these are ony approximate ratings. You shoud aways foow the exact ratings that manufacturers provide with their products. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rating for winches appies to a bare drum with its first ayer of cabe. As the diameter of the drum increases from additiona ayers of cabe, the rating decreases, meaning that the more ayers of cabe on the drum, the ess weight the winch can ift (refer to Diagrams 3 and 4 beow). DIAGRAM 3 DIAGRAM 4 A winch has different ratings, depending on the number of ayers of cabe on the drum. A winch at a we iustrates how everage changes. Internationa Institute of Towing & Recovery (IITR), Genera Information, p. 18, adapted.

15 -9- Booms that extend and retract have a rating that appies to each circumstance. A retracted rating wi be higher than an extended rating. Towing devices usuay show a ift rating and a tow rating. Do not ift or tow a vehice that exceeds these ratings. Like booms, whee-ifts and underifts may aso have retracted and extended ratings. Care shoud be taken in seecting attachments (that is, hooks, repair inks or rings) for the chain or cabe. The attachments must have a working oad imit that meets or exceeds the chain s or cabe s working oad imit. The attachments must aso be marked for the same size as the chain or cabe. You shoud never exceed the working oad imit set by the manufacturer. Even a one-time overoad of tow truck equipment can cause undetected damage that weakens the equipment significanty, causing subsequent equipment faiure that can resut in injury or death. Exceeding working oad imits can cause a chain, cabe, bock or strap to break and recoi with damaging force. A hook pued oose can be even deadier because it wi fy aong with its accessory. To avoid a fying hook, make sure that its point is facing upward. In this position, it wi fy toward the ground if it sips or pus oose. Anticipate the path that the hook might take if it were to come oose, and keep yoursef and others out of this path. USE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. DON T TAKE SHORTCUTS. TAKE YOUR TIME and BE SAFE.

16 -10- CHAPTER 4 - TOW TRUCK PARTS AND EQUIPMENT This chapter describes many of the working parts of a tow truck and the equipment that may be found on tow trucks (see Diagram 5 beow). DIAGRAM 5 Cabe-Supported Tow Truck Mast and Associated Parts and Equipment Terms expained in this chapter: boom; mast; winch; auxiiary winch; drag winch; power takeoff (PTO); cabe; wrap; swage; thimbe; wedge socket; sheaves; snatch bock; chain grade or strength rating; tow sing; truck hitch; tow hitch; whee-ift; underift; securing devices; doy; hazard ight(s); auxiiary tow ights; drag ights; work ights. A. BOOMS A boom is a structura member of a tow truck that extends from a mast (the structure that houses the boom and winches) to support the oad and to hod, extend or ift a oad free of the ground and cear of the tow truck body. Generay, tow trucks have either one or two booms, which may be operated either mechanicay or hydrauicay. Mechanica booms are raised and owered with the aid of a manua winch. A manua winch must be operated ONLY when there is NO oad on the boom. A hydrauic boom, on the other hand, can usuay be raised, owered, extended or retracted, whie it is oaded, to increase or decrease winch cabe eevation. B. WINCHES A winch is a device for winding and unwinding cabe that is used to pu, hoist, raise or ower the oad or sing free of the ground. The cabe is wound, or wrapped, on a drum. To hep prevent the cabe from puing oose from the winch drum and dropping the oad, aways maintain a minimum of three to five wraps of cabe on the drum, or the number of wraps the winch manufacturer recommends. The winch cabe is normay routed over the end of the boom and then down to a sing or tow bar. Some tow trucks have auxiiary winches caed drag winches.

17 -11- The cabe on drag winches goes directy to the oad, and not over the end of the boom. The power to most hydrauic and mechanica winches is provided by the power takeoff (PTO), which is a device that transmits engine power to auxiiary equipment. The contros for the PTO are ocated in the cab of the truck. CAUTION: Traveing with the PTO engaged wi cause PTO and/or truck transmission damage. C. CABLE (STEEL WIRE ROPE) Cabe is stee wire rope used for puing or supporting a oad. Care must be taken to wind cabe tighty and eveny, because oose or uneven cabe can become crushed, bent or kinked. Aso, if the cabe is not wound tighty and eveny, when a heavy oad is ifted, the cabe can become buried and wedged among other wraps of cabe on the drum. Not ony does this cause extensive damage to the cabe, but it can cause a oad to sip and can possiby disodge the vehice being towed. The tabe beow shows cabe diameter and its respective working oad imits. Cabe Working Load Limits Wire Rope (6 x 37, Fiber Core) Diameter mm (inches) WLL kg (pounds) 7 (1/4) 640 (1,400) 8 (5/16) 950 (2,100) 10 (3/8 1,360 (3,000) 11 (7/16) 1,860 (4,100) 13 (1/2) 2,400 (5,300) 16 (5/8) 3,770 (8,300) 20 (3/4) 4,940 (10,900) 22 (7/8) 7,300 (16,100) 25 (1) 9,480 (20,900) New York State Department of Motor Vehices Driver s Manua for the Safe Securement of Meta Cois and Other Cargo, MV-79 (6/02), page 2.7 If the cabe competey unwinds from a winch, the cabe may pu oose from the drum and drop the oad. To hep prevent this from happening, aways maintain a minimum of three to five wraps of cabe on the drum (see Diagram 6 beow), or the number of wraps the winch manufacturer recommends. One wrap is a singe coi of wire rope/cabe wound on a drum. Compare Diagram 6 with Diagram 3 on page 8 to see the difference between wraps of cabe and ayers of cabe. DIAGRAM 6 Aways keep at east three wraps of cabe on the drum for safety. Internationa Institute of Towing & Recovery (IITR), Operation, p. 32, adapted.

18 Cabe Terminations: Cabe is no stronger than its end attachments, or terminations. The termination recommended for towing is a swage end, in which the cabe ends are braided and a seeve is paced over the end of the cabe and pressed together by a specia hydrauic press. A swage end provides 90% to 100% of cabe strength. Athough ess desirabe, it is sometimes necessary to terminate cabe by using cabe camps, cips and/or U-bots. These shoud ony be used as a temporary repair. Manufacturer specifications must be consuted before making repairs to terminations so that the terminations provide at east 75% of cabe strength. Aways insta a thimbe (a shied to protect the cabe at the hook assemby) in the oop end of the cabe. A wedge socket is a device that cabe is threaded through to form a oop. The wedge socket is hed in pace by pressure that is appied to the wedge by the weight of the oad being ifted. A sudden oss of pressure (caused by going over a bump, for exampe) can drive the wedge oose and cause the oad to fa. For this reason, a wedge socket shoud NEVER be used to terminate a cabe that is to be used for towing. 2. Cabe Wear and Damage: Cabe may be damaged by overoading, by continued variations of stress or vibration, by being bent around sharp corners, or by being drawn across sheaves (pueys) that are too sma. Types of cabe damage are: wear, fatigue (subjected to stress), tensie (stretched or drawn out), and shear (cut or cipped). You shoud continuay inspect cabe for wear and for frayed, distorted or crushed wires. Pay particuar attention to pickup points (that is, points that are in contact with drums and sheaves when the initia oad of a ift is appied) and end attachments. Questionabe cabe shoud be discarded. D. SNATCH BLOCKS A snatch bock is a singe or mutipe puey system that is used to reduce ine tension or change cabe direction. A singe winch cabe can be rigged with a singe snatch bock to create a two-part ine. Each part of the ine supports an equa share of the oad and effectivey reduces, by one-haf, the tension to each part of the ine. If the snatch bock is moving with the oad, it is reducing tension; if it is not moving, it is changing the direction of the pu. E. CHAINS Chains are used for tie-downs, and to ift, support and pu oads. A wide variety of chains is avaiabe, but not a are recommended for towing. Aways inspect chains before using them to make sure that they are not twisted, knotted, distorted or damaged. The Nationa Association of Chain Manufacturers has adopted a system for identifying chain. Chain that is manufactured by these standards bears a etter (which identifies the manufacturer) and a number (which represents the chain's grade or strength rating). You shoud never use chain that cannot be identified by its grade. The four most common types of chain are: 1. Proof Coi (identified as "3" or 30 ), which is not heat treated and is an extremey ow grade of chain. It is dangerous when used for puing or ifting, and is not recommended for use in towing. 2. High Test (identified as "4" or 43 ), which is not heat treated. It shoud not be used for recovery work. 3. Transport (identified as "7" or 70 ), which is a high-quaity, heat-treated chain. It is widey used in the towing industry, but it is not approved for overhead ifting.

19 4. Aoy (identified as "8" or 80 ), which is a heat-treated chain that is stronger than Transport, but is very expensive. It is the ony chain recommended by OSHA, the Occupationa Safety and Heath Administration, for overhead ifting. Pease refer to the tabe beow for the dimensions and working oad imits of these four grades of chain DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TABLES TO [Working Load Limits (WLL), Chain] Grade 30 Proof Coi Grade 43 High Test Grade 70 Transport Grade 80 Aoy Federa Register / Vo. 67, No. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2002 / Rues and Reguations, adapted. F. TOWING DEVICES Towing devices are used to attach motor vehices to tow trucks. Exampes of these devices are tow sings, truck hitches, whee-ifts and underifts. 1. Tow sings are devices used for ifting and towing vehices, with part of the oad supported on rubber bets. They may ift and tow automobies, ight trucks or sma vans, and are generay used ony for transporting damaged vehices. Tow sings are usuay rated for a ifting capacity of 3,500 pounds, and a towing capacity of 7,000 pounds. Aways consut the manufacturer s rating. The rating is for a maximum oad and shoud NEVER be exceeded. Overoading can cause a tow sing to fai unexpectedy, resuting in an accident. Even a one-time overoad may cause undetected damage that significanty weakens the equipment, and causes equipment faiure. Equipment faiure may cause injury or death to you or others. 2. Truck hitches are devices used to position and support one end of a towed vehice behind the tow truck. They are used in medium- and heavy-duty towing to tow buses, motor homes, medium and arge trucks, arge box vans or off-highway equipment. Tow hitches perform the same function as truck hitches, but are used for towing ighter oads.

20 Whee-ifts are devices used for towing vehices by ifting one end of the towed vehice by the whees. Because they position the oad further back than tow sings do, they hep eiminate the risk of damage to modern vehices that use pastics, air fois and other aerodynamic stying features. However, a whee-ift can cause damage if it is aowed to contact any part of the disabed vehice other than the tires or whees. Whee-ifts can be grouped into four basic designs: Grid, Add-On Scoop, Caw (Auto Load) or L-Bar (Whee Retainer). Most ight-duty whee-ifts are designed to tow ight cars, trucks or vans. Consut the manufacturer s rating. The rating is for a maximum oad, and shoud NEVER be exceeded. 4. Underifts are devices used for towing vehices by ifting (with forks) one end of the towed vehice from under the axe or structura member. They are generay used on medium-duty and heavy-duty tow trucks. Consut the manufacturer s rating, and NEVER exceed the rating. G. DOLLIES Most whee-ifts and underifts are hydrauicay powered. Hydrauic power can be used to raise, ower, extend or retract the boom or inner boom. Each movement is usuay controed independenty. Some have a tit contro, but others do not. Whee straps and auxiiary securing devices hep prevent the separation of the disabed vehice from the whee-ift or underift. Two whee-securing devices are necessary, one for each side or whee. These are primary securing systems and are subject to stress during routine tows. In addition to the securing devices, at east two safety chains must be attached from the disabed vehice to the tow truck. This is required by aw. Doies are four-wheeed carriages used, in towing, to support the traiing end of the towed vehice. Doies are sometimes used to oad and transport a vehice with damaged tires, or vehices that cannot be ifted by their drive whees. Remember that, under New York State aw, a vehice must be securey fastened to a doy to ensure that it does not become disodged in transit. Two-wheeed doies are sometimes used to ift the drive whees of a vehice that is being towed. They are commony used with recreationa vehices, but are gaining popuarity in the commercia towing industry. This type of doy may propery be cassified as a towing device. Doy capacity is governed by the tire manufacturer s specifications. Be sure to check that tires are infated to the proper pressure, and are free from dry rot. H. TOW TRUCK LIGHTS A tow truck shoud be equipped with the foowing types of ights: 1. Hazard ight(s): A tow truck is defined as a "hazard vehice" under the Vehice and Traffic Law. As such, it must be equipped with hazard ight(s), which are defined as, "one or more fashing, rotating, revoving or osciating amber ights visibe to a approaching traffic for a distance of five hundred feet". These ight(s) are to be dispayed ony when a tow truck or car carrier is engaged in a "hazardous operation", which is defined as "the operation, or parking, of a vehice on or immediatey adjacent to a pubic highway whie such vehice is actuay engaged in an operation which woud restrict, impede or interfere with the norma fow of traffic".

21 -15- With two exceptions, hazard ight(s) shoud NEVER be dispayed whie a tow truck is underway. These exceptions are: (1) when a vehice can ony be towed at speeds that impede the norma fow of traffic, and (2) when a towed (or carried) vehice protrudes into other anes of traffic. 2. Auxiiary tow ights: Tow trucks must aso be equipped with auxiiary tow ights (sometimes referred to as "drag ights"), which are attached to the traiing end of the vehice that is being towed, and are operated as part of the towing vehice s ighting system. Auxiiary tow ights must dispay a of the ights (that is, taiights, brake ights and directiona signas) that woud be dispayed if the towed vehice were traveing under its own power. Faiure to attach these ights to a towed vehice is a vioation of New York State and federa aw. 3. Work ights: Lasty, tow trucks shoud aso be equipped with work ights that may be used to iuminate the scene of an accident or disabement. Extreme care shoud be exercised to shied these ights from oncoming traffic, because they can bind passing motorists. For this reason, the headights on a tow truck shoud aso be turned off after dark whie preparing a disabed vehice for towing. Recent studies have demonstrated that "ess is better" when iuminating an accident scene, because too much ighting can confuse, distract and temporariy bind motorists who approach or pass through the scene. USE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. DON T TAKE SHORTCUTS. TAKE YOUR TIME and BE SAFE.

22 -16- CHAPTER 5 - LIGHT-DUTY SAFE TOWING PRACTICES This chapter wi recommend procedures for hooking up and towing a disabed ight-duty vehice. Terms expained in this chapter: whee chock; L-arm/whee arm; whee straps; whee securing devices; T-hook; grab hook; J-hook; safety wrap; air dam; fascia; spoier; spacer bock. A. BEFORE YOU TOW Approach as foows: When you are within 500 feet of the disabed vehice, turn on your hazard ight(s) and fashers, and begin to reduce speed. Pu over in front of the disabed vehice, onto the shouder, if possibe. If the vehice is in a traffic ane instead of on the shouder of the road, you may need to contact poice to assist with traffic. Aways have the number handy so that you can contact poice quicky to assist with any unsafe situation. First and foremost, be seen. For your own safety at the scene, it is recommended that you wear refective cothing so that you do not become a casuaty whie preparing to tow. Determine vehice type, assess damage, and decide on equipment: Upon arriving at the scene, decide what type of equipment is necessary to safey tow the disabed vehice (wheeift, tow sing or car carrier). Aso, note any damage to the disabed vehice on the invoice. The previous chapter described imitations that are paced on tow trucks and on equipment that is used in commercia towing operations. The disabed vehices you tow aso have imitations. Some vehices can suffer serious damage if they are towed by tow sings. Others cannot be towed by any type of tow truck; they must be transported by car carrier. In most circumstances, uness safety considerations dictate otherwise, the preferred practice is to tow with the drive whees off the ground. To protect its transmission, a rear-whee drive vehice may need to have its drive shaft removed from the driveine before towing (see Chapter 6, Section A). To find out if the drive shaft of a vehice shoud be removed before towing, or if you have any doubts or questions as to how a vehice shoud be towed (or if it can be towed), consut the owner's manua or the AAA Towing & Service Manua. NOTE: Refer to the Towing and Recovery Association of America s TRAA Vehice Identification Guide on page 17, and the VIN CODES guide on page 18. You shoud aso determine if damage to the disabed vehice prevents it from being towed by conventiona means. It may be necessary to use a car carrier to transport vehices that have suffered severe damage to steering systems, whees, tires or whee bearings. At times, however, it may be possibe to tow these severey damaged vehices by using a tow sing and doy combination. Be sure to use a doy under the drive whees if the drive whees are going to be on the ground.

23 -17- Communication between towing and recovery operators and aw enforcement personne, describing an incident and the vehices invoved, can ensure quick and efficient cearing of these scenes and ess disruption to traffic fow. In an effort to standardize communications, the towing industry is adopting the federa vehice cass standards as described in the chart beow.

24 -18- VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CODES The mode year of the vehice is critica information for towing operators in order for them to reference correct towing procedures. The diagrams on page 17 are exampes of cassifications. The foowing information about the vehice identification number (VIN) affixed to the chassis wi hep determine the vehice s year. The vehice s year, identified by a etter or number in the VIN sequence, is the eighth character from the right. EXAMPLE 1995 VIN: A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T V W X Y A B C D E B. TOWING WITH A WHEEL-LIFT (see Diagram 7 beow) DIAGRAM 7 Whee-Lift Parts

25 -19- Proper towing procedures are as foows: Back the tow truck to the point where the crossbar of the whee-ift is about one foot from the front bumper of the disabed vehice. Put the tow truck's transmission in NEUTRAL (or PARK, if it is an automatic transmission), set the parking brake and engage the PTO. Chock the whees of the tow truck. Set the parking brake on the disabed vehice so that it cannot ro freey during oading. Use whee chocks (usuay trianguar in shape) to bock both the front and the rear of the traiing end tires. (NOTE: Turn on the disabed vehice s four-way fashers during oading.) Lower the whee-ift so the crossbar amost touches the ground. Extend the whee-ift so that both outer crosstubes are in firm contact with both tires. The crosstubes may have to be adjusted so that the L-arm receptaces are coser to the outer sidewas of the tires. (This does not appy to auto-oad whee-ifts.) Insert the L-arms (whee arms - the devices that attach to the ift bar to engage the tires of the towed vehice) firmy against the rear side of the tires, and ock them in pace. (This does not appy to auto-oad whee-ifts.) Sowy start the ift so that it supports the disabed vehice. Put the transmission of the disabed vehice in NEUTRAL, remove the whee chocks from its tires, and reease the parking brake. This wi center the disabed vehice in the L-arms. Secure the steering whee in the straight-ahead tracking position. This wi minimize the possibiity that the disabed vehice wi veer out of contro if it becomes disodged from the towing apparatus. Do not rey on the disabed vehice's steering whee ocking device to secure the steering whee. Use a doy if you cannot secure the steering whee in a straight-ahead tracking position. Raise the whee-ift so that the bottoms of the tires on the raised end of the disabed vehice are at east six inches above the ground. Retract the whee-ift to where the disabed vehice wi not come into contact with the tow truck when the truck is making turns. Remember, positioning the disabed vehice coser to the tow truck wi reduce the amount of overhang, and increase the truck s steering contro. Insta whee straps (two must be used) or whee securing devices (attached to the ift bar) as tighty as possibe to tie down the whees of the towed vehice, and to secure the disabed vehice and hep prevent it from separating from the towing apparatus. Attach safety chains so that they do not drag on the ground or interfere with the turning radius. Insta auxiiary tow ights on the traiing end of the disabed vehice to aert foowing traffic when you are stopping or turning. Tow ights must incude stop ights, turn signas and taiights. Do not use the headights of the disabed vehice as a substitute; they may bind oncoming or foowing traffic.

26 -20- Make sure that a windows and doors are cosed and that the hood is firmy atched, and put the disabed vehice s transmission in PARK. Do a wak-around inspection to check the traiing end of the disabed vehice for ground cearance, and to make sure that the ights are working. Use a doy if there is not sufficient ground cearance. TURN OFF THE DISABLED VEHICLE S FOUR-WAY FLASHERS. Remove the tow truck whee chocks. C. TOWING WITH A SLING OR TRUCK HITCH (see Diagram 8 beow) This section appies to a tow truck that uses a tow sing or truck hitch (see Diagram 8 beow). Procedures for wheeifts are covered in Section B. DIAGRAM 8 Tow Sing

27 -21- It is assumed that T-hooks wi be used as attachment devices, because most cars manufactured after 1980 come equipped with directiona hoes or sots to accommodate these hooks. A T-hook is a device, usuay at the end of a chain, used instead of a grab hook (a chain hook that wi not side), to secure a vehice being towed. If a T-hook cannot be used (such as on pre-1980 cars and some smaer cars), it may be necessary to use other attachment devices. J-hooks, for exampe, are paced under the ower contro arms of a disabed vehice's suspension. Pacing J-hooks esewhere can cause the vehice to ride up on a sing and become disodged during sudden stops. Hooks shoud aways be attached so that the point of the hook is facing up and the oad is appied to the "throat" (or bend) of the hook. Pacing a oad on the tip of a hook can cause the hook to bend. Care shoud aso be taken to ensure that hooks do not come in contact with steering inkages or axes, or the rubber boots that may cover, or partiay cover, them. Proper towing procedures are as foows: Back the tow truck to the point where the tow sing comes within six inches of the front bumper of the disabed vehice. Put the tow truck's transmission in NEUTRAL (or PARK, if it is an automatic transmission), set the parking brake and engage the PTO. Chock the whees of the tow truck. Set the parking brake on the disabed vehice so that it cannot ro freey during oading. Use whee chocks to bock both the front and the rear of the traiing end tires. (NOTE: Turn on the disabed vehice's fourway fashers during oading.) If using a tow sing or truck hitch, insert the appropriate attachment device, pu each chain tighty, and secure it in the grab hook on the anchor bar. Safety-wrap the tow chains around the grab hooks on the tow sing anchor bar or truck hitch. This prevents the tow chains from accidentay coming out of the grab hooks (see Diagram 9 beow). DIAGRAM 9 Safety-wrap the tow chains for safety!

28 -22- Do not aow chains to push against fragie parts such as air dams (a fexibe, air-defecting pane usuay ocated beow the radiator support), fascia (fexibe materia covering, and sometimes extending beow, a bumper), fue tanks, exhaust systems, CV drive shaft boots, tie rods, steering inkage, sway bars, brake ines, hoses or spoiers (a cosmetic, wind drag device mounted on the trunk id). The use of wooden cross beams and spacer bocks (bocks used to provide additiona cearance) may assist you in keeping chains away from these parts. Engage the winches to take a of the sack out of the chains. Lock the spacer extension bars in the appropriate position. Put the disabed vehice's transmission in NEUTRAL, remove the whee chocks, and reease the parking brake. Start the ift sowy, avoiding any sudden oading. Raise the vehice unti the tires are cear of the ground. Cars or ight trucks shoud be raised unti there is at east six inches of cearance between the bottoms of the tires and the ground. Watch the rear of the vehice to make sure there is no contact with the ground. NEVER raise the tow sing or truck hitch higher than the mounting brackets on the rear of the tow truck. Attach safety chains so that they do not drag on the ground, bounce oose or interfere with the turning radius. Secure the steering whee to keep the front whees in the straight-ahead tracking position. This wi minimize the possibiity that the disabed vehice wi veer out of contro if it becomes disodged from the towing apparatus. Never rey on the disabed vehice's steering whee ocking device to secure the steering whee. Insta auxiiary tow ights on the traiing end of the disabed vehice to aert foowing traffic when you are stopping or turning. Tow ights must incude stop ights, turn signas and taiights. Do not use the headights of the disabed vehice as a substitute; doing so may bind oncoming or foowing traffic. Make sure that a windows and doors are cosed and that the hood is firmy atched. Do a wak-around inspection to check the traiing end of the disabed vehice for ground cearance, and to make sure that the ights are working. Use a doy if there is not sufficient ground cearance. Turn off the disabed vehice s four-way fashers. Remove the tow truck whee chocks. D. DURING THE TOW Merge as foows: After the disabed vehice is hooked up and secure, you shoud begin your merge into traffic. This shoud be done from the shouder, if possibe, and you shoud not enter a ane unti you have reached an appropriate traveing speed. Once the merge is compete, the hazard ight(s) shoud be turned OFF (refer to Chapter 4, Section H, 1, paragraph 3 for exceptions).

29 -23- Genera Rues and Responsibiities For Safety: Foow the recommended maintenance and inspection procedures provided by the manufacturers of a the equipment that you use. Never exceed the gross vehice weight rating or the safe towing capacity of the tow truck. Never exceed the working oad imits of the tow truck or its accessories. When traveing, avoid fast starts or rapid acceeration. Check the mirrors of the tow truck to make sure that the disabed vehice is tracking propery. Check the whee-ift or tow sing periodicay to make sure that its position has not changed, and check the whee-securing straps or securing devices to make sure that they are tight, and that the vehice has not shifted position. When driving on uneven ground (crossing driveways, speed bumps, dips, pothoes or rairoad tracks), proceed sowy, so you do not disodge the disabed vehice or damage its underparts. Never jackknife the tow truck and the disabed vehice when parking or maneuvering. Jackknifing wi damage both the towing devices and the disabed vehice. DRIVE SLOWER, AND ALLOW GREATER DISTANCES FOR STOPPING, TO HELP ENSURE BETTER BRAKING ABILITY AND STEERING CONTROL. TAKE THE PROPER STEPS IN THE PROPER ORDER. DON T TAKE SHORTCUTS. TAKE YOUR TIME and BE SAFE.

30 -24- CHAPTER 6 - MEDIUM-DUTY AND HEAVY-DUTY SAFE TOWING PRACTICES This chapter wi describe specia procedures that shoud be foowed in preparing medium-duty and heavy-duty vehices for towing. Terms expained in this chapter: driveine; axe cover; forks; cross-member. Heavy-duty trucks can be more expensive than automobies and, consequenty, any damage that occurs to these vehices during towing may be much more costy to repair. Whie heavy-duty vehices appear extremey sturdy, in some respects they can be more fragie than automobies. A. GENERAL HOOK-UP PROCEDURES First and foremost, be seen. Remember, for your own safety at the scene, it is recommended that you wear refective cothing so that you do not become a casuaty whie preparing to tow. Approach the disabed vehice as described in Chapter 5, Section A. Contact poice immediatey for assistance with any situation that appears unsafe. Set the parking brake on the disabed vehice so that it cannot ro freey during oading. Use whee chocks to bock both the front and the rear of the traiing end tires. Assess the damage, and decide on the equipment needed. Note any damage to the disabed vehice on the invoice. To support the extra weight of trucks with a GVWR of 26,001 bs. or more, a towing hook-ups shoud be made, whenever possibe, to the vehice's frame members and not to its suspension. Ony in instances when underifts are used in towing shoud attachments be made to the disabed vehice's suspension. When towing from the front, chains shoud be attached under the front axe and extended to the frame of the disabed vehice. This crades and ifts the axe in the chains as the vehice is raised, aowing the vehice to be towed without being ifted too high. NOTE: Damage can occur to any composite springs if chains or underift attachment forks are eft to ride against them. It is recommended that a chains used during towing be High Test quaity or better. Under NO circumstances shoud a vehice having a GVWR of over 7,000 pounds be towed with a sing and J-hooks. Truck transmissions are not adequatey ubricated during towing. Consequenty, when towing from the front, the drive shaft shoud be removed (or the axe shafts shoud be removed) to prevent the transmission's tai shaft from turning. In most cases, it is easier to remove a drive shaft than to remove the axe shafts. Removing the drive shaft aso minimizes any oss of ubricating fuid, and aows the truck to be towed for onger distances. MARK THE DRIVE SHAFT BEFORE REMOVAL. The drive shaft is factory-baanced, so uness you mark it, you wi not be abe to reattach it in the baanced position. CAUTION: It is very important to note that the remova of a drive shaft from the driveine (meaning the drive shaft and its associated joints) is one of the most dangerous procedures in towing. If there is tension on the drive shaft when it is being oosened, it can spin out of contro and strike the tow truck operator often causing serious injury or death. For this reason, you must aways ensure that the disabed vehice is in NEUTRAL, and that the brake is reeased, before removing the drive shaft.