The Roots of Tow Trucks
One of the stable jobs that we can find today is towing. It has been in the business for many decades. We can trace its roots in 1916 where the concept of a tow truck was born. Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr. an American auto-repair garage businessman in Chattanooga assisted his friend, John Wiley, after his Model T car drove through the creek. The attempt to rescue Wiley with the use of his twin boom wrecker, a 1913 Cadillac, failed; but did not stop him from improving it. Hence, the tow truck was finally patented in January 17, 1918 which also opened doors to the towing and recovery industry.
Holmes had many tow truck and wrecker inventions. He was the first to invent the first military wrecker and supplied the twin boom wreckers for the troops during the World War II. This company grew bigger even after his death in 1945 where he died of a heart ailment. His son, Ernest Holmes, Jr. took over the Holmes Company until it was sold to the Dover company in 1970’s, and eventually ended up with the Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc.. The said company is still operational even to this date and going stronger as ever. They are committed to producing the best towing equipment in the industry. In July of this year, 2017, the Miller industries are determined in investing on a 20 million dollar expansion that will further boost the industry’s manufacturing wrecker facility in Ooltewah. This is only a portion of the bigger plans that they have in the other US states where they hold their other facilities.
Holmes’ wreckers and tow trucks have gone a long way from its first invention in 1916 up to the Miller industries in 2017. It has provided many employment opportunities and towing business ventures worldwide. We have a lot to thank Ernest Holmes for such an invention. If it was not for him, tow truck drivers will not be around to help us with our car problems and the society as well.
Tow truck drivers display the same passion that Holmes had. It is a requirement for them to not only pass the usual general qualifications, but to at least have the desire to assist other people. They should not just have the skills, but the same kind of passion that Holmes showed when he invented the tow trucks.
Towing may be a stressful job but it is indeed fulfilling to be of service to the community.
Holmes had many tow truck and wrecker inventions. He was the first to invent the first military wrecker and supplied the twin boom wreckers for the troops during the World War II. This company grew bigger even after his death in 1945 where he died of a heart ailment. His son, Ernest Holmes, Jr. took over the Holmes Company until it was sold to the Dover company in 1970’s, and eventually ended up with the Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc.. The said company is still operational even to this date and going stronger as ever. They are committed to producing the best towing equipment in the industry. In July of this year, 2017, the Miller industries are determined in investing on a 20 million dollar expansion that will further boost the industry’s manufacturing wrecker facility in Ooltewah. This is only a portion of the bigger plans that they have in the other US states where they hold their other facilities.
Holmes’ wreckers and tow trucks have gone a long way from its first invention in 1916 up to the Miller industries in 2017. It has provided many employment opportunities and towing business ventures worldwide. We have a lot to thank Ernest Holmes for such an invention. If it was not for him, tow truck drivers will not be around to help us with our car problems and the society as well.
Tow truck drivers display the same passion that Holmes had. It is a requirement for them to not only pass the usual general qualifications, but to at least have the desire to assist other people. They should not just have the skills, but the same kind of passion that Holmes showed when he invented the tow trucks.
Towing may be a stressful job but it is indeed fulfilling to be of service to the community.
