Local Talent: Local Business - Episode 26


“You don’t know what that operator’s been through that day”. When you see a tow truck operator at a pit stop, you don’t know if he’s come from rescuing a small dog locked in a car or if he’s been at the scene of a five car pile-up with multiple fatalities. On this episode of the Local Business podcast, host Jason chats with Schertz business owner and tow truck operator Geoffrey Nienstedt.

Geoff tells Jason how he left school early and got into the tow truck industry. He gives an insider’s point of view of the business, telling Jason about the pay and commission that tow truck operators receive and what he’s learned since he became a business owner. They discuss the reform that Geoff is trying to push through local government with a group of grassroots lobbyists that would increase the fine for drivers who ignore the state’s Slow Down or Move Over law. Geoff also highlights a growing problem in the tow trucking industry—a lack of operators. Listen to the episode to find out what that could mean from your local community.

This episode of the Local Business podcast features Texas business and political issues. If you’d like to hear more about what entrepreneurs in the Cibolo-Schertz area are up to, subscribe to the Local Business podcast!

Timestamps
[1:27] Geoff gives Jason his elevator pitch and explains how he started his business
[3:37] “Trial and error”: How Geoff learned towing
[5:20] Can anyone take tow truck training?
[6:18] How Geoff started out the business
[8:05] Making towing safer
[10:03] Growing the business to a second truck and retainer contracts
[11:57] What’s a truck worth?
[12:28] Geoff’s business competition
[13:51] What Geoff wishes he knew before starting his business and his biggest mistake
[15:50] The tool that runs Geoff’s business
[16:07] “Being able to keep everybody happy”: How Geoff measures success
[16:43] What can go wrong in towing?
[21:00] Lobbying to change the law on unsafe driving
[26:56] Crunching the numbers on the Slow Down or Move Over rules
[29:00] What new drivers need to know about moving over, and how to teach them
[33:47] It’s time for the… Lightning Round!!
[37:35] How Geoff manages his employees
[40:38] “If you think it’s bad now”: What happens when there aren’t any more tow truck drivers?
[44:00] A tow truck driver’s typical pay and commission structure
[53:05] Tackling negative stereotypes about tow truck drivers
[54:08] “You don’t know what that operator’s been through that day”
[57:24] Geoff’s parting words of wisdom

Highlight Quote“Back when I was getting going, and this is something you’ve got to really be really careful with in business, [my biggest mistake was] growing too fast… When things look like they’re going so well and you’re buying equipment and stuff then all of a sudden you feel like the walls are closing in on you. We went through 2008, 2009, which I ended up making it through fine but it’s scary as hell.”
Geoff Nienstedt, Local Business podcast, (14:36)

Links:
https://www.rrtowing.com/
https://www.instagram.com/towroadrunner/

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https://open.spotify.com/show/7N1EFqBxTHi7oHUAWEqCOE