Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to announce a new online Parts Store department for trucks and wreckers

Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to announce a new online Parts Store department for trucks and wreckers - launched at the end of 2009 and now continuously growing and expanding the assortment of products.

Our online parts store makes it easier to find the necessary truck or rollback part, get all the information about it and make a fast order. Online store is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, therefore you can access it any time you need. We ship truck parts worldwide and deliver nationwide. The store is available at http://www.nussbaumwreckers.com/shop/index.php

The online store features a full product catalog with a huge selection of truck, wreckers and rollbacks parts.

Browse our site for heavy duty truck parts, to upgrade or repair your truck, or check our offering of the latest wreckers or tow trucks accessories. We offer you truck parts from GMC, Ford, Chevrolet, Jerr-Dan and other manufacturers. In our parts store you will find truck wheels, truck bumpers, truck transmission, ramsey winches, car dollies, light bars, slings, winch cables, tool boxes, lockout kits, ratchets & straps, chains, wheel covers, go jaks, hooks, PTO cables, gloves, simulators, truck equipment, towing equipment, to keep your wrecker, rollback or carrier operating efficiently.

Nussbaum's Sales Corp. has been serving the towing and recovery industry since 1959, offering our customers a complete line of towing equipment from JERR-DAN. We can supply your wrecker or carrier with a wide range of options on the truck chassis of your choice. We always have new Chevrolets, Fords, Internationals and Peterbilts in stock, ready to go. We offer a complete package deal at competitive pricing, with financing and lease programs tailored to your needs. Please contact us at www.nussbaumwreckers.com

Bucket truck safety: avoid falls and electrical hazards when using an aerial device

THE AERIAL OPERATOR HAS THE MOST AFFECT ON THE SAFE OPERATION OF AN aerial device. He has an impact on receiving proper training, proper operation of the equipment, use of equipment as intended, and maintenance of the equipment. All are essential components for safe operation.

Safety rules have been developed as a result of repeated accidents, and these rules are written in blood. Following the safety rules every day is your only option. Let's look at just two items that can be hazards for an arborist: falls and electrical contact. Learn and follow proper work practices, because they have been developed to prevent accidents, including falls and electrical incidents.

Falls

When working from a bucket truck, taking precautions to prevent a fall is imperative. The operator is required to wear a fall protection system with the lanyard attached to the manufacturer supplied "D" ring.

Although not all from bucket trucks, four people fall every working day. Overreaching and not standing on the basket floor with both feet often results in falling out of a basket. However, being ejected from the basket is the majority of falls from buckets. There are several ways this can happen.

* The bucket truck is struck by another vehicle.

* An object, such as a tree branch, can strike the basket or boom.

* The basket or boom can snag on something and suddenly release, causing the boom to recoil.

* A lift rope can break, or the load slip while using a material handling aerial device.

* A rope used to tie off a branch to a tree can slip and allow the branch to fall or swing into the boom or basket.

* A mechanical part of the leveling system can fail from overload or improper maintenance causing the basket to tilt.

* A cut can go wrong and a branch fall the wrong way.

A fall to the ground can be prevented if the operator wears a fall protection system. The equipment owner and the operator must determine what type of OSHA-approved fall protection system they will need to use. Then it is up to the operator to always wear the harness, inspect it daily before use, and adjust it to fit, according the fall protection manufacture's instructions. An improper fitting harness can increase the chance of injury. Lastly, do not forget to attach the lanyard to the attachment point provided by the aerial manufacturer. Proper maintenance and skillful operation and techniques can prevent most accidents.

Electrical Contacts

You cannot tell what an object's electrical potential (voltage) is. Whenever you work near power lines, there is the possibility of an electrical contact. Proper precautions and following proper work rules will provide some protection from this unseen danger. Only a line clearance arborist can work around power lines. You must have the proper training to recognize the hazards in line clearance and know the techniques and equipment required to work in the vicinity of power lines. Unless you are a trained lineman or are a qualified line-clearance arborist authorized to work near energized lines, you and the equipment you are operating must maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from all power lines. This 10-foot clearance increases with voltages of 50KV or greater. If you are an arborist and see a downed or damaged line, do not try to repair it. Contact the electrical system owner/operator of the power line. When your work may be too close to a power line, contact the power line electrical system owner/operator. They are much better equipped to handle problems safely.

To define some of the terms used: current is the flow of electricity, measured in amps; voltage is the force--the difference of potential--causing the current to flow, measured in volts; and resistance is the property trying to prevent current flow, measured in ohms.

Your body operates on electricity, the nerves use an electrical signal to see, think, make muscles move, indicate temperature, and let you know when you have an injury (pain). Low levels of an outside source of electrical current vary from undetected to where it will disrupt the body's electrical system and cause pain. At higher levels it can cause the muscles to contract intensely and interfere with the heart's function. At high levels it can cause severe burn injuries.

It does not take much current to affect the human body. Very small currents can be fatal. As the current flow increases, the tissue damage to the body increases. The damage will be determined by the power to which a body is exposed. This power is a function of the length of time of contact and the amount of current flowing through the body. Keep in mind that an electrical burn caused by a high-voltage contact causes current to flow through the blood and bone marrow. It literately cooks the body from the inside out. Further, a high-voltage electrical contact keeps on destroying tissue even after the voltage has been removed. High voltage is defined as equal to or greater than 600 volts. A distribution power line primary phase to ground potential can be anywhere from 2,400 volts to 19,900 volts.

Electrocution occurs when a person's body becomes a path for electric current. You place your body in a position to become an electrical path by touching, or getting too close to, two objects at a difference of potential (voltage). The voltage difference causes the current flow between the parts of the body in contact. You do not have to touch an object to be a path. The current can jump through air if the distance, voltage level and weather conditions are suitable. Current can also flow over what are normally considered non-conductive parts caused by surface contamination. These include dirt, moisture and oils. Here's what's important; any time any two parts of your body are placed between a difference of potential, current will flow. The amount of current flowing through your body is determined by the amount of resistance. The higher the resistance, given the same voltage, the lower the current flow. Conversely, given the same voltage, the lower the resistance, the higher the current flow. Lineman's rubber gloves and insulated booms provide an extremely high resistance. Leather gloves and moist skin provide a low resistance.

There is a false impression that current follows the path of least resistance. Current follows every path it can find. Lower resistance paths have more current flowing through them, but all paths will have a current flow--this is Ohm's Law. Even though there may be a lower resistance path for current flow, it does not take much current to be fatal. Consider a condition called a ground fault. This can have a momentary current surge in distribution power lines up to 15,000 amps. Remember, current will seek ground through every path available.

Current flow is not always from a hot wire in one hand to the ground under your feet. It can be:

* From a tree branch touching an energized phase or part, through your saw, to you and down to the ground through the tree you are climbing.

* From an energized phase wire, through you, to a neutral or ground wire.

* From an energized phase wire, through you, to a different phase wire.

* From a branch you are trying to remove, through the rope to the person handling the rope.

* From a tree branch you are holding, through you, to the controls you are operating when part of the aerial boom tip touches an energized phase or part.

* From an energized phase wire in contact with, or too close to, a non-insulated portion of a boom, through you, while standing on the ground touching the truck or attached chipper.

* From one foot, through you, to the other foot if standing near an energized vehicle or tree that has become energized (note:this is known as step potential).

* From the ground you are standing on, through you, to a tree you are removing, if an energized phase is contacting a branch of the tree.

* From an energized phase hidden in the branches through the branches and down the tree to you when you drill it to inject chemicals.

This partial list gives examples of contact possibilities. There are many possible combinations where a person's body can become a path for current, whenever a difference of potential exists. Remember, whenever any two parts of your body are at a difference of potential, current will flow. You must be aware of the clearance distance required to power lines. See ANSI Z133.1 for proper clearance distances.

Your bucket truck has three components that will provide some protection if they are properly maintained by being kept clean, dry and periodically tested per ANSI A92.2:

1. A basket liner will protect only that portion completely inside the liner. Anything conductive that extends out of the liner will conduct electricity into the liner and make it ineffective.

2. The insulating section of the upper boom will prevent current flow from the boom tip through the boom to the elbow only.

3. The lower boom insert will provide an insulating section between the elbow and the truck chassis.

The boom tip does not provide insulation because it contains metal components to provide structural support. Manufacturers place a band of arrows on the upper boom to show the end of the insulated section. Past the band of arrows on the boom, any part of the boom tip that contacts a energized line or part will become energized at that potential. Also, any part of the boom tip that contacts a grounded component will ground the entire boom tip. This includes the controls and all other components that are past the band of arrows. Covers and guards may provide limited protection but you cannot depend on them. They are not tested or maintained to provide electrical protection. Contact of fiberglass covers and guards with energized parts may arc along the surface or through the fasteners to metal under the cover and energize the entire boom tip. You must maintain proper clearance from all sources of electricity.

Just because you are in an aerial device you are not protected from all contact with an energized object. If you touch or are part of a path between two objects at different potential you can be electrocuted. The aerial device will only prevent one energized source having a path to ground through the boom. You are not like a bird on a wire.

Tool Hoses

Another hazard on aerials involves the tools you use. Many aerials are equipped with hydraulic tools such as power saws and loppers. The tools are connected to the bucket truck's hydraulic system through the tool hoses, which must be non-conductive. They are orange color and have NON-CONDUCTIVE printed on them. Inspect the hoses in the area just beyond the fittings for any wrinkling. Wrinkling is an indication of hose failure that's about to occur. Black tool hoses may be reinforced with wire braid and they are conductive. If a conductive tool hose bridges across electric lines it can cause an arc. A sustained are will melt a hole in the hose and ignite the mist that escapes. Since the hoses and hydraulic oil are flammable, the escaping oil will form a blowtorch and could spray the operator with ignited hydraulic oil. There have been far too many failed basket rescue attempts with a fire at the boom tip and an operator on fire because of poor or no training on basket rescue techniques, or failure to practice this necessary procedure periodically. The operator and the ground crew must know how to perform a basket rescue, especially in the case of a fire or an electrical contact. The operator's life is at stake here. If you don't know basket rescue techniques, find out.

An arborist's job is hazardous enough. That's why we follow the safety work rules and use the equipment properly in an earnest effort to prevent accidents.

Trucking - a successful career

Making a Career decission
The independent trucking owner-operator faces a unique and challenging business environment as (s)he conducts business on the open road from a truck that not only serves as an office, but also as a second home. The success of the American economy depends on enterprising men and women like you who make their living in this field. Motivation and hard work alone will not guarantee success. You have to possess business skills, technical knowledge and industry experience to succeed as an trucking-owner-operator.
Trucks transport 94 percent of all consumer, 77 percent of all industrial, and 68 percent of all farm goods in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Annually, the value of all goods shipped exceeds $6 trillion.
You're excited about your career decision, but please proceed with caution and prudence. Owning and operating an 18-wheeler requires research and planning. As an owner-operator, you make sacrifices because your business requires you to work nights, on weekends and even holidays, often away from your family.
Planning and Preparation
Good preparation and careful consideration of what makes an owner-operator successful will help you avoid costly mistakes that can set you back or even destroy your dream. Such a major decision affects you, your spouse and your family. Include them in your decision-making process, since your family’s support will contribute to your success.
If you know exactly what type of trucking you want to do, and maybe you have a business plan, marketing plan, and resumes of yourself and your employees or partners all together to present to your prospective financial institution. With that (those) assumptions you can contact the State Department of Motor vehicles, tell them to send you the necessary package of paperwork.
Economy Based
Work varies from year to year, because the strength of the economy dictates the amount of freight moved by trucks. Companies tend to hire more drivers when the economy is strong and deliveries are in high demand. When the economy slows, employers hire fewer drivers, or even lay off drivers. Independent owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns. Industries least likely to be affected by economic fluctuation tend to be the most stable places for employment. The number of truck drivers and Owner Operators with sales responsibilities is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all other occupations because companies are increasingly shifting sales, ordering, and customer service tasks to sales and office staffs, and using regular truck drivers and Owner Operators to make deliveries to customers.
The internet is one of the fastest growing tools for reaching qualified drivers and owner operators, 80% of workers in the transportation industry have internet access at home or work and 40% actively search the web more than once a day for job opportunities driving trucks. It's fast, informative, and most importantly convenient - the internet can accommodate any busy schedule.

Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers new website launched.

Nussbaum’s Sales Corp. is proud to present a new web site design, structure, and functionality - launched in November 2007.


The Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers site has changed a lot since our first site went online. We hope this site is more attractive and easy to use. Much of the site content has been updated and we are now planning to launch new Parts Store.

When we decided redesign the Nussbaum Wreckers & Carriers web site several months ago, we had a few primary goals in mind:

• Make sure the new design will be modern and attractive.
• Update our product catalog to have more quality photos and better structure.
• Create search tools to easily find inventory.
• Provide a visually appealing and easy-to-use site.

Of course it's hard to measure success for most of these; we feel that the new site design meets these goals. We know that there is probably much more that we can do to make our site more accessible, usable, and informative. If you have recommendations, please contact us.

Jerr-Dan Towing & Recovery Technologies, Towing the Line

Jerr-Dan Towing & Recovery Technologies, headquartered in Greencastle, PA designs and manufactures transporter truck bodies and towing and recovery bodies and equipment. The company has two production facilities in Greencastle and an installation/distribution center in Las Vegas. The company has 380 employees and revenues of $175 million per year. Jerr-Dan distributes its products across North America by a factory-trained independent distributor network; it also has distributors in Europe and Asia.
The Jerr-Dan story started in 1972, when the corporation acquired the rollback and farm equipment division from Grove Manufacturing, which had been making farm equipment and hydraulic cranes since 1959. Jerr-Dan’s innovative style quickly led to the development of new products and new markets, including the Aluminum Wrangler in 1977. Targeted for installation on the traditional one-ton chassis, the Aluminum Wrangler catapulted Jerr-Dan into a dominant position in the vehicle transportation industry. In 1982, Jerr-Dan introduced Wrangler Lite, an extruded aluminum carrier that set a new industry standard. To meet the needs of an expanding market, Jerr-Dan widened its distribution, appointing more independent distributors and factory-owned retail locations, and launched an aggressive product development program. In 1996, the company developed one of the first composite bodies in the industry, using aerospace and automotive technologies to bond composite materials to an aluminum structure, making truly lightweight bodies for medium- and heavy-duty tow trucks.
Well-known wrecker models made by Jerr-Dan today include the Quick-Pick and the HIP 40. Designed for a large number of tows in a short period of time, the Quick-Pick is ideal for impounding and repossession work as well as quick- spot movements in storage yards. A patented variable-width body features a low-profile tapered rear deck for superior rearward visibility. The HIP 40 is a light-duty wrecker with a large number of user-friendly features. Composite body panels reduce weight and add life, and an integrated boom tilts seven degrees below and 15 degrees above horizontal. A counterbalance valve on its lift tilt cylinders ensures smooth, reliable operation.
Jerr-Dan carriers include the sturdy, good-looking Aluminum Elite. It’s built from polished structural aluminum, which provides a better strength-to-weight ratio than most steel car carriers. It has a hard-pulling worm gear winch with planetary speed and a subframe that features long, greaseless slide pads. Jerr-Dan’s hardwood-floored Transporter series comes in 5-, 7.5-, 10-, and 15-ton models, each with a range of optional features suitable for number of industrial carrying needs. The 15-ton model has a deck capacity of 30,000 pounds and a winch line pull of 20,000 pounds. Its deck length options are 24’, 26’, and 28’.
Jerr-Dan was the first company to develop the aluminum carrier deck, independent underlifts, and composite bodies, and it continues to push the boundaries of tow-truck technology today. Last November, it introduced a new heavy-duty wrecker model, the HDL 700/350 Integrated. This 35-ton, heavy-duty wrecker features Jerr-Dan’s patented lightweight and corrosion-resistant composite/ aluminum body construction, and it has an integrated underlift boom. The 700/350 offers the same lifting capacities found in Jerr-Dan’s 35-ton independent wrecker, but at a different price point. The new wrecker model has many of the same features found on Jerr-Dan’s other heavy-duty wreckers.
Jerr-Dan has also launched a new remote-controlled winching operation option, developed jointly with Transportation Safety Technologies, Inc. (TST), a leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of electronic switching systems and components for specialty vehicles. This new option features TST’s Side Arm 2 function remote controller. The Side Arm features a 100-degree operation radius, backlighted switches, an all-weather, high-visibility cover/holder complete with tether and holster, and a low battery LED indicator with nine-volt battery operation. The Side Arm remote control winch option is available for all Jerr-Dan standard-duty and medium-duty carriers. “We are very excited about our new heavy-duty wrecker and partnership with TST to make available a new remote that will assist towers with all winching functions on our carrier products,” said Jeff Weller, president. “Both initiatives demonstrate that Jerr-Dan continues to set the standard for innovation and customer assistance in the towing industry.”
On the same day these two new products were launched, Jerr-Dan signed a distribution agreement with Long Island’s largest Chevrolet dealer, Ramp Chevrolet, to distribute all Jerr-Dan products. Ramp is a family-owned and operated business with one of the largest inventories of recovery vehicles in the United States and more than 58 years of automotive experience.
“Jerr-Dan is committed to providing the highest quality products and services nation-wide,” said Weller. “We are extremely pleased to form this partnership with Ramp, which is a well-run and highly respected truck dealership with a national presence, strong marketing capabilities, unwavering commitment to customer service, and proven record of success in the distribution end of our business. We look forward to working with Ramp and its professional and trained specialists to deliver our full range of products to new and existing customers.”Peter Kontzamanys, general manager of Ramp, said, “We are pleased to join with Jerr-Dan to provide our customers with quality towing equipment that complements our existing Chevrolet truck line.”

Manufacturing in Action, Source : The Manufacturer US

2008 Ford Super Duty

Overview

The 2008 Ford Super Duty pickups feature new styling inside and out along with a re-engineered suspension that delivers a smoother ride. A new diesel engine and a new F-450 pickup are designed to handle the needs of ever-increasing agricultural, boat, and RV trailer weights. Other revisions and refinements are designed to address customer comment and stricter emissions standards.

Two words can define the 2008 Super Duty relative to the previous iteration: refined and more. It has more of the work ability you expect from a heavy-duty pickup, yet it is more comfortable, rides better, delivers more in the cost-benefit analysis, and is more environmentally friendly, a lexicon not normally applied to big trucks. With realistic expectations, any faults will seem minute when compared to the ability to plow a big parking lot, carry a small car or tow a small house.

The 2008 Super Duty is not an all-new truck. Some body panels, engines and transmissions continue. But many aspects more substantial than the front-end styling have changed. It has a new interior in five different flavors from hose-out to leather lux, a new diesel engine, more added features, and should cost less based on equipment than the outgoing model.
And in a first for any major pickup manufacturer Ford has added a medium-duty pickup, the F-450, to the line. This model will be pricey by pickup standards, probably over $60,000 loaded, but it offers load capacity and towing ability never before found in a pickup, and is capable of carrying 5,000 pounds of hay and towing an 18,500-pound horse trailer simultaneously.
Need a truck to work? The Super Duty line can haul from one ton to three. It can tow from three tons to more than twelve. It can carry three to six real-world people with room to spare. And the door pockets, glovebox, and console will hold more stuff than some sports cars' trunks. If you don't need a truck to perform heavy duty work, stop reading here.
Model Lineup

The 2008 Ford Super Duty comes in myriad configurations, with four trim levels, four weight divisions, and two box sizes (6.75 feet, 8 feet), the majority available in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Almost every permutation is built. Exceptions: The King Ranch version is offered only on Crew Cabs, the F-450 is long-bed Crew Cab only, and the FX4 trim is not offered on 2WD, any F-450, or with a regular cab.

A 5.4-liter V8 with 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque is standard on all models up to the F-350 Crew Cab DRW, which has the 362-hp, 457 lb-ft 6.8-liter V10 standard. Both the V10 and 6.4-liter diesel (350 hp, 650 lb-ft) are optional across the F-250/F-350 spectrum, but the diesel is the only engine offered on F-450. A six-speed manual is standard, a five-speed automatic available.

The base XL is commercial in nature, with vinyl seats and flooring, black painted grille and bumpers, plain trim, AM/FM stereo, and a weight-appropriate receiver hitch. Options include mechanical upgrades (engine, limited-slip differential, larger tires, traction control, camper package, off-road package for 4WD, Tow Command, etc.), air conditioning, auxiliary switches, reverse sensors, and a tailgate step.
XLT trim adds chrome trim and wheels, 40/20/40 cloth front seat, carpet, AC, CD player, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt wheel and cruise control. Options include aluminum wheels, captain's chairs w/power and heat, Audiophile sound system, adjustable pedals, Sport trim package, moonroof, and rear-seat DVD entertainment.

The FX4 off-road model adds 18-inch wheels and LT275/70R18 all-terrain tires, standard limited-slip, skid plates, fog lamps, security system, overhead console, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Options include 20-inch wheels, navigation/Audiophile system, Sirius radio, and power telescope/fold heated dual-element towing mirrors.

Lariat trim (n/a on regular cabs) adds polished wheels, leather power seats, dual-zone climate control, trip computer, redundant sound/climate controls on wheel, woodgrain trim, illuminated visor mirrors, privacy glass and a sliding rear window. Options include those offered on most Super Duty models plus captain's chairs, universal door opener, and a power sliding rear window.

The King Ranch package, offered only on Lariat Crew Cabs, adds two-tone paint, driver memory package, tow mirrors, unique forged alloy wheels, powered trailer mirrors, badging, and Chaparral-leather for the steering wheel and four captain's chairs and both center consoles.
Safety equipment includes antilock brakes, dual front airbags, adjustable height outboard belt anchors, child-seat LATCH anchors, and a passenger airbag deactivation switch on regular and SuperCabs, all standard.

Walkaround

Already the biggest pickup in town, the 2008 Ford Super Duty appears even more imposing because of a larger grille, deeper bumper, and stacked lamps with the headlights on the bottom. Dimensions are easily given in yards rather than inches. The sheer vastness of the sheetmetal may overwhelm your car wash guy. The color of the side vent gives away if it is gasoline or diesel-powered.
Given its fender flares and dark snout, the FX4 is the most aggressive trim style, though no Super Duty would be mistaken for anything less than a full-size pickup even with nothing scalable within sight. New towing mirrors include signal repeaters that won't distract the driver; they telescope and fold (manual or powered), and include two large reflective elements for safe rear vision with the widest street-legal trailers.
An optional tailgate step pops a 16.7 x 4.5-inch step with a half-ton load rating out of the tailgate and raises a grab handle rated at 300 pounds to make the climb safer. It also includes an assist so the very heavy tailgate feels less heavy. The handle makes bed access easier but may need to be lowered again to slide a load in, and removing the gate, as is often the case with some trailers, may become a two-person chore.