10-4 Magazine / December 2025 33 by a Cummins 444 with an Eaton-Fuller 18-speed transmission, and fitted with a Challenger 9900 60-ton rotator. According to American Towman Magazine, in their October 1990 issue, Bob’s Peterbilt was the most expensive wrecker ever built at that time. This cool Peterbilt also won the 1992 and 1994 Tow Times beauty contests. Proudly owned and maintained by Bob and his wife Margie, and their children, Harry, Bobbie and Sissy for 35 years, the paint is all original with every stainless bolt on the truck polished. For the last 15 years the truck has not been in service and has been kept inside a garage. In September 2025, Bob sold his prized, one-of-a-kind Peterbilt model 379 wrecker to a fellow Ohio based company, Sandy’s Towing, where the hope is to have this unique truck on display in the International Towing and Recovery Museum, at some point, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With 58 trucks in the beauty portion of the show, the rotator class was highly competitive. All the rotators on display were absolutely immense and impressive to see, but Brian Harney of Somerset, Kentucky based Candido’s Towing took home top honors with his 2024 Peterbilt 389X (#660), equipped with an 1150 50-ton Miller Century rotator. Placing second was a 2024 KW W990 twin-steer, fitted with an 1150R 50-ton Miller Century rotator, that was owned by Hadley’s Towing of Novi, Michigan, and driven by Patrick Martich. Also making the trip down from Hadley’s was Ricky Cook with his 2024 Peterbilt model 389, with an extended day cab option, and equipped with a Miller Century 30K, 28-foot rollback carrier. A 20-year towing veteran, and all with Hadley’s, Ricky told me, “We take pride in our equipment and do so much more than just move vehicles with our trucks. From production molds for the big three to fork trucks and, honestly, anything that can go on a flatbed, this truck is very versatile.” Everyone we met all weekend long was amazing – all were proud of their trucks and proud to be towers. We also met many readers of 10-4 Magazine, as well. Thanks to all of them for saying “hi” and telling us how much they love our magazine! One great couple I want to give a shout out to is Mike Rokiski and his fiancé Nina, who were gracious enough to spend some time with Spencer and me and answer questions about the show and the towing industry. Owner of Milford Towing out of Milford, Ohio, Mike had a new Peterbilt model 589 on display, as well as one of the smaller trucks from his fleet “the grocery getter” (as his employees like to jokingly call it) – a Ford F550 equipped with a Miller Chevron 408 wrecker body. Both Mike and Nina are very active in the TRAO, with Nina currently presiding as the secretary of the Women’s Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio (WTRAO) for the last three and a half years. “The WTRAO raises money for the injured drivers fund and we support and promote children’s events at shows like this one through fundraising events and sponsorship from towing companies and towing manufacturers like Miller Industries,” said Nina. Besides the beauty competition (where I spent most of my time), the parking lot was also packed full of a number of manufacturers, vendors and truck dealers selling and promoting their latest towing products and equipment that included everything from safety vests and t-shirts to brand-new rotators and rollbacks ready to take home. “This show is a great opportunity to visit with friends, customers, and get together and relax and meet other like-minded individuals,” said Mike Rauh of Matheny Motors of Parkersburg, West Virginia, a distributor for Miller Industries towing and recovery equipment. While the trucks may be a little different, the owners passion and pride for their rides shine bright, like so many others in the trucking industry. But if you love something specialized, I’d suggest checking out a parking lot full of rotators and rollbacks in Ohio next year! The next Midwest Regional Tow Show is scheduled to be held on the weekend of September 24-26, 2026, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, OH. n EDITOR’S NOTE: All photos by Mark Harter and Spencer Schmerheim. Drone shots courtesy of Joe Latapy.
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