Tow Truck "W" Endorsement

Air Dam - answera flexible air-deflecting panel usually located below the radiator support. Approach Angle - answerthe angle between the plane of the carrier bed or platform and the ground. Auxiliary Braking Device - answera device which attaches to the disabled vehicle to assist the tow truck's brakes in retarding or stopping both vehicles. Auxiliary Equipment - answerequipment that is not necessary to perform the basic function of the primary equipment. Auxiliary Tow Lights - answerstop, tail and turn signal lights attached to the trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing vehicle's lighting system. Also see "Drag Lights". Auxiliary Winch - answersame as "Drag Winch": a winch whose cable goes directly to the load, and not over the end of the boom. Axle Covers - answerdevices used to cover drive axle shaft openings to help prevent contamination or loss of wheel bearing lubrication during towing or transporting operations. Bed Locks - answerdevices on a vehicle with a movable bed that secure the bed in place while traveling. Boom - answera structural member, extending from a mast, that supports the load and is used to hold, extend or lift a load free of the ground and clear of the tow truck body. Breaking Strength Rating - answerthe maximum weight or load, as established by the manufacturer, that new, unused equipment can bear, under ideal laboratory conditions, without being damaged. Bridle - answera V or Y type coupling device used to attach and center a cable in recovery, loading and unloading operations. Cab - answerthe driver/passenger-carrying compartment of a truck Cab-to-Axle (CA) - answerthe distance from the back of the truck cab to the center of the rear axle. See chassis manufacturer's dimensions. Cable - answersteel wire rope used for pulling or supporting a load. Car Carrier - answera vehicle equipped to transport one to three motor vehicles on a flat platform that slides or tilts to the ground to facilitate the loading and unloading of these vehicles; may or may not have an additional assembly attached to the rear to facilitate towing an additional vehicle. These units are also known as slidebacks, rollbacks, transporting equipment carriers and flatbeds. Chain Grade or Strength Rating - answerthe number placed on chain by the manufacturer as part of the National Association of Chain Manufacturers' system of identifying chain. Chain manufactured by NACM standards also bears a letter that identifies the manufacturer. Cross-Member - answera general term applied to transverse members in the understructure of a vehicle. Curb Weight - answerthe unloaded weight of a truck, axle or axle combination. Disabled Vehicle - answerfor purposes of this manual, this term refers to a motor vehicle that is illegally parked, abandoned, or disabled (unable to operate under its own power), or a motor vehicle that has been involved in an accident. Dolly - answerA four-wheel carriage used, in towing, to support the trailing end of a towed vehicle. Drag Lights - answersame as "Auxiliary Tow Lights": stop, tail and turn signal lights attached to the trailing end of the towed vehicle, and operated as part of the towing vehicle's lighting system. Drag Winch - answera winch whose cable goes directly to the load, and not over the end of the boom. Also see "Auxiliary Winch". Driveline - answera vehicle's drive shaft and associated joints. Fascia - answerflexible material commonly used as a bumper cover (may extend below the bumper). Forks - answerdevices attached to the lift bar (also see "Tow Bar") for lifting a vehicle by the axle, frame or structural member. May be classified as chain, axle or frame forks. Front Axle Weight (FAW) - answerthe curb weight (unloaded weight) of the front axle or front axle combination. Grab Hook - answera chain hook that will not slide; used with safety chains and some tow sling hook-ups. Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) - answerthe front or rear axle weight. This is the value specified by the vehicle manufacturer as the load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured where the tires touch the ground. Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) - answerthe gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the power unit (tow truck), plus the GVWR of each vehicle in the combination (the vehicles(s) being towed or transported). GCWR includes everything that moves with the towing or transporting vehicle. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - answerthe weight of a vehicle, consisting of the unladen weight plus the maximum carrying capacity recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer Hazard Lights - answerflashing, rotating/revolving or oscillating yellow or amber light(s) on a tow truck. Headboard - answera vertical device of sufficient strength, permanently affixed (usually to the bed) between the load and the cab of the towing vehicle, that serves to protect the cab and its occupants. Heavy-Duty - answera tow truck with a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds that is designed to tow or transport large buses, trucks or trailers, heavy construction equipment and/or farm machinery. J-Hook - answeran attachment device used for towing that is placed under the lower control arms of a disabled vehicle's suspension. L-Arm - answersame as "Wheel Arm": a device that attaches to the lift bar for engaging the tires of a towed vehicle. Lift Bar - answera transverse, horizontally pivoting member attached to the boom of a wheel-lift or underlift, to which towing accessories can be attached. Light-Duty - answera tow truck with a GVWR of 8,600 to 10,000 pounds that is designed to tow or transport automobiles, pickup trucks and small vans. Mast - answerthe structure that houses the boom and winches. Also called a "winch frame" or "wrecker frame". Medium-Duty - answera tow truck with a GVWR of 10,001 to 26,000 pounds that is designed to tow or transport medium-size trucks, buses and recreational vehicles, as well as smaller vehicles. Overhang - answerthe horizontal distance from the centerline of a single rear axle or the center point of a tandem rear axle, where the vertical component load is imposed, to the center of the lift point. Power Takeoff (PTO) - answera mechanical device used to transmit engine power to auxiliary equipment. A power takeoff can be mounted on either a main or an auxiliary transmission. Front-mounted and flywheel-mounted power takeoffs are also used in various applications. Pulley - answera wheel grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power. Pusher Axle - answerin a tandem axle, the rear drive axle, with a free-rolling or "dead" axle in front of it. Also see "Tandem Axles". Rear Bed Stabilizer - answerthe fixture extending below the tilt bed of a car carrier that makes contact with the ground prior to full extension. Safe Towing Capacity (STC) - answerthe amount of weight or load that does not cause more than a 50% loss of the original unloaded front axle weight (FAW). Safety Chains/Cables - answerdevices used as a secondary coupling system to connect the towing and towed vehicles, and to help prevent separation of a vehicle trailer, converter dolly, or towed vehicle from the towing vehicle. Safety Wrap - answerto wrap the tow chain(s) around the grab hooks of the tow bar inboard of chain. Securing Device (primary) - answera strap, chain or mechanical device which, when attached from the bed or lift bar, limits the potential for separation of the disabled vehicle from the carrier or towing lift bar. Sheaves - answersame as "Pulley": wheels grooved for a cable/belt to transfer power. Shock Load - answera force that results from rapid impacting and/or jerking.