Roads don’t move themselves. When traffic locks up, weather turns rough, or a semi straddles two lanes, tow professionals show up so the rest of us can keep going. We sat down with Jeffrey Godwin, first vice president of the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga, to uncover the human stories, the history, and the hard realities behind this essential trade. From Ernest Holmes’ 1916 tow truck to today’s engineered rotators, we trace innovations that shaped safety, recovery tactics, and the culture of service.

Jeffrey pulls back the curtain on the Hall of Fame selection process, the global footprint of inductees from 18 countries, and why longevity and unselfish industry impact matter more than titles. We spend time at the Wall of the Fallen, a permanent memorial honoring operators who died in the line of service. The ceremony is deeply personal for families, and it doubles as a powerful public safety message: slow down, move over, and treat every roadside scene like someone you love is standing there.

We also dig into the Survivor Fund, designed to move faster than insurance and get immediate help to families when tragedy strikes. You’ll hear how rapid-response gifts (now a minimum of $10,000) bridge critical weeks for households that often rely on a single income. Then we look ahead to Museum Weekend each October, where the industry gathers to celebrate new Hall of Fame inductees, remember the fallen, and take part in the museum’s largest fundraiser, featuring major auctions and community events.

Whether you’re in towing, logistics, public safety, or simply drive a car, this story is yours too. Memberships, donations, and sharing the message all keep vital programs running, preserve history, and improve safety for everyone on the road. If this moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to understand why move over laws and towing support matter. Your voice helps honor the past and protect the people who keep our roads open.

Some stories punch through noise because they’re more than stories—they’re proof. Manny lost a leg at the hip in a car crash, powered his way to the Paralympics as a competitive powerlifter, and now shows up on Oregon roads as a tow operator with a calm focus and a hunger to work. He loves being the person who brings relief at the worst moment of someone’s day, and he’s chasing a bigger future: a CDL, longer runs, and eventually heavy wreckers.

We sit down with Manny and Cody from AE Towing in Eugene to share what the job really demands—fast response on police calls, safe movement on tight shoulders, and the ability to rig and roll under pressure. The missing piece is a modern, custom prosthetic socket built for hip disarticulation. His current socket cuts into his skin within an hour, forcing him to rely on crutches during long shifts. That steals his hands when he needs them most. The right socket would change everything: safer transfers in and out of the cab, fewer skin breakdowns, more stable footing around traffic, and the endurance to handle five- to six-hour stretches behind the wheel.

You’ll hear how the towing community rallied—shop owners, vendors, and friends sharing Manny’s journey across TikTok and Instagram—and why a GoFundMe with a clear goal can unlock a full career. Beyond the gear and the grind, this conversation hits the core of towing culture: service, resilience, and the quiet pride of getting people home. Manny doesn’t want favors; he wants tools and a shot to prove what he can already do.

If this resonates, help spread the word, share the episode, and consider contributing to Manny’s socket fund. Subscribe for more stories from the towing and recovery front lines, leave a review to boost the show, and tell us: what part of Manny’s journey fired you up most?

A tow operator flagged down on I‑10. A man trapped under a semi. A rotator lifts, the team coordinates with fire and EMS, and a life is moved toward safety. That’s where our conversation with Hall of Famer Kevin Goodyear begins—not with chrome and horsepower, but with service, training, and calm decisions when seconds matter.

We trace Kevin’s journey from riding in tow trucks as a kid to leading a multi-faceted operation built on faith, grit, and community. He shares the mechanics and mindset behind a 500,000‑pound dragline recovery that ran through the night: deadman anchors, D8 bulldozers, thirty-eight lines, and five heavy wreckers working in sync. It’s applied physics under floodlights, where load transfer and line angles decide whether a plan succeeds. Along the way, Kevin explains how cross-training with fire departments, understanding PTSD, and building a culture of purpose keep teams ready for the hardest calls.

Beyond the roadside, we dig into the policies that shape daily work. Kevin makes a compelling case for state towing associations as the thin line protecting lien laws, rotation fairness, lighting standards, and move-over enforcement. He’s raising the next generation inside his own company—operations, marketing, and legislative advocacy—and tapping national 20 groups to avoid tunnel vision. We also talk vendor partnerships and why reliable support after the sale matters as much as a spec sheet. The through line is unity: compete in business, collaborate in the halls of advocacy, and present towing as the professional emergency service it is.

If you care about safety, professionalism, and the future of the towing and recovery industry, this conversation will give you tools, stories, and a clear direction. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what’s one standard we should all raise next?