Finally, a towing podcast by people who’ve actually run the trucks, built the tech, and lived in the trenches! Hosts Shelli Hawkins and Dennis McGowan bring decades of street-level experience and insider knowledge to launch The Tow Trend Podcast.
In This Podcast Episode…
In episode two our dynamic hosts, Dennis and Shelli, chat with towing industry experts and special guests Shane Coleman, ERSCA’s National Director of Training, and Bear Godfrey, Lead Instructor at WreckMaster, for a dynamic discussion on the evolving importance of safety and training.
Shane and Bear don’t usually share a stage, but they’re joining our hosts to talk about something bigger than competition — the future of training in towing.
This conversation digs into why the old “here’s the keys, go figure it out” approach isn’t cutting it anymore. With more complex vehicles, insurance companies getting pickier, and operators coming from outside the industry, training has shifted from nice-to-have to absolutely essential.
ℹ️ Related:
- Watch: Train to Retain — How Mission Wrecker Service Tackles Operator Retention Challenges
- Read: From the Field — How One Operations Manager is Navigating Towing’s Hiring Challenges
Bear shares his story about an operator who thought a $160K truck’s side puller was “worthless” because no one taught him how to use snatch blocks. Shane breaks down why thinking operators don’t panic — and panicking operators don’t think. Both explain why the industry’s resistance to change is becoming a real problem.
Our Hosts and Guests Cover Key Topics, Such As:
- Why modern vehicles demand different knowledge than the old days
- The SCENE protocol, and other structured incident response approaches
- How to handle reluctant trainees and break through industry arrogance
- The 3 “abilities” every operator needs: responsibility, accountability, and avoiding liability
- What insurance companies and municipalities will likely require going forward
For operators, owners, and anyone wondering whether training is worth the investment, this episode makes the case that it’s not just about skills anymore. It’s about survival in a rapidly changing industry.
About The Tow Trend Podcast
Welcome to The Tow Trend Podcast with Dennis McGowan and Shelli Hawkins — your insider’s guide to the towing industry! Join us monthly for dynamic conversations with industry experts, successful operators, and special guests sharing real stories from America’s roadsides. Owners, dispatchers, fleet managers, and enthusiasts tune in to uncover the latest tools, trends, and tactics driving success today, and discover where the industry is headed next. Get ready for insights that keep your business and your community, moving forward. Brought to you by Autura.
