TowXchange - Municipal Towing Solutions

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What single tool can I use to automate our auto pound operation?

TOPS is a comprehensive application used by municipal and private auto pounds to manage every aspect in a transparent, accountable and efficient way.
Lien and notification laws change all the time - how can I keep up?

TOPS updates are automatically installed when a user logs into the system. We add functionality, make changes in response to law changes and update our software to work with updated operating systems on a regular basis.
Is there a source for best-practices with regards to auto pound management?

TowXchange has been the premier provider of automated towing dispatch/operations and auto pound management solutions for many years. Its staff and executive team collectively has hundreds of years experience in auto pound management, municipal contracts and has seen just about every scenario possible.
What is wrong with using the dispatch tool provided by our CAD provider?

CMA, whether integrated into the City's CAD system or not, starts with the officer's request for a tow. All aspects of dispatch from there are automated - the communication, acceptance, call status and completion, whether taken to the auto pound or not, are time stamped and user stamped.
How can I use TOPS to take the load off my dispatch desk?

TOPS is designed to allow online access in a variety of ways. TOPS Public Search allows the general public to locate their vehicle on the City's web site or a vanity site created specifically for the auto pound, provides a map and directions to that pound as well as any other information the City would like to pass on, including the current accrued charges, if desired.
We are thinking about outsourcing our towing management - can TOPS help?

TOPS is used by the largest towing management company in the world, as well as collectives of local towing companies, to assist them in helping cities outsource their towing dispatch/management. Our applications provides real-time accountability and transparency so the City has complete oversight and insight without having to manage the managers.
How do I control multiple auto pounds?

TOPS PD gives access to call status, inventory and call details to authorized personnel. This allows a comprehensive search function, the ability to manage investigative holds put on vehicles as well as possible remote access to images and details of people who have visited the vehicle, for example.
How does the citizen know where to go if we have multiple pounds?

TOPS Public Search is the perfect tool for directing citizens to their vehicle. It can inform them of any investigative holds and what charges to expect as well as permissible payment methods. This helps mitigate surprises at the pound and the possible need to make multiple trips.
How can images help my auto pound operation?

TOPS Images assigns pictures or scans of documents to a call record, easily accessible to the user, to provide everything from proof of damages, easy access to police impound data and a possible near-paperless solution. Most new cameras time and location stamp so TOPS can pin point both the time and location the picture was taken. This helps considerably with fraudulent claims that damage was caused while in the auto pound.
How do I keep track of tows that do not go to the City auto pound?

TOPS PD not only gives access to tows taken to the pound but also those taken "private". A constant frustration to the general public because of over-charging, all call details are accessible for any police-directed tow even after the tower changes the customer to a body shop, for example. This transparency stops complaints to the City immediately. Also, all towing requests are accounted for to prevent Internal Audits from claiming vehicles might have been impounded and released without being accounted for.
How can I ensure the correct vehicle is impounded and released?

TOPS has a built-in VIN decoder which verifies the VIN is correct as well as making sure the subsequent DMV information is accurate so notifications can be sent appropriately. Late model VINS can be barcode scanned into the system. By giving an attendant a copy of the release report, verification of the vehicle can be done prior to the vehicle leaving the pound.
How do I reduce phone or face time to create efficiencies at the window?

TOPS provides the ability to search every data point of the call record. Locating the vehicle for the citizen is quick and simple. By scanning the license of insurance adjusters or others who visit the vehicle, accurate information is acquired that is accessible for investigative purposes as well as consistently input to allow integration with municipal records systems.
How do I manage multiple "holds" put on vehicles in the pound?

TOPS keeps track of multiple holds and time stamps releases. It also knows whether storage can accrue during holds or not, keeps track of reasons as well as contact information for hold release info. It does not allow vehicles to be released that are on hold and provides comprehensive reports on vehicles on hold. TOPS Images can store the release in the call record for added accountability.
How do we avoid quoting the incorrect price over the phone?

TOPS can be set up to populate the pricing screen automatically with the appropriate charges and storage is calculated based on the regulations in place at that time based on the time stamps of actions within the call. This can get extremely complicated when considering investigative holds. An accurate estimate can be given at any time, either electronically or over the phone.
How does TOPS handle the lien notification laws of different states?

TOPS has a complete step driven lien process that results in vehicles being readied for auction. Various notifications and other accountability steps are documented for each vehicle and processed in batch. Letters are pre-populated and printed, together with labels for envelopes. Any change in State or local laws can be made very quickly to make the process comply with current law.
How do I make sure all the funds received are deposited in the bank or sent to the City Treasurer?

TOPS was created to manage multiple auto pounds remotely. A very important part of that is to make sure money received makes it to the bank. Internal Auditors love the controls inside TOPS!
What kind of information can I get from TOPS to help me run the pound more efficiently?

TOPS comes with multiple standard reports. The "dashboard" helps managers know what is going on at any given time of the day. Reports can be created for every data point and any report can be exported to Excel and manipulated from there.
How do I keep track of bidders and deposit requirements, etc.?

TOPS logs bidders who can sign in very easily using the license swipe. It records the required deposit and as soon as winning bids are input into the system, either in the office or remotely by the auctioneer, a statement to checkout the bidder can be generated. In states where additional fees and taxes have to be charged, these charges are automatically added to each bidder's statement appropriately.
Is there a way to automate the notification of private property non-consent tows?

TOPS PPI enables authorized private towers to report towing of abandoned vehicles to the City electronically and gives the citizens the ability to locate their vehicle using TOPS Public Search and additional information necessary to release the vehicle. It is then possible for the City to use those notifications to automatically check citation and stolen-car databases prior to allowing the tower to release the vehicle.

Municipal Towing Solutions

TowXchange serves municipalities by providing software solutions that manage their auto pound operations. Our various products are designed to provide complete contractor accountability, full transparency, and a complete technical solution that produces efficiencies by reducting personnel costs while providing greater customer service to the community.

Municipal Solution Tools

	TOPS is the flagship offering from towXchange. TOPS manages all aspect of a tow operation from the initial tow request to final vehicle disposition (whether released or auctioned). TOPS includes features such as VIN decoding, Drivers License Swipe, Barcode Inventory Management, Hold(s) Management, Contact Management, Batch Lien Processing and Auction. (available in certain states) more
	TOPS Central Management Application is a robust application used exclusively for managing municipal tow operations. Municipalities use TOPS CMA to reduce time on the phone, increase data accuracy, improve tower response times, and efficiently manage tower contract compliance. TOPS CMA offers electronic call distribution to your contract tow operators, rotation management, arrival/ETA management, reporting, complex search and real-time call messaging. This web-based application can accept electronic tow requests from City systems such as CAD. Tow requests are then routed to the appropriate contract tow company based on your dispatch rules. (TOPS is required for the contract tow companies.)
	TOPS ppi is a web-enabled application which is deployed to non-consent tow operators allowing them to electronically file tow records in a central database for the local municipality. This tool requires the tow operators to input vehicle information; License Plate information and to process Vehicle Identification Numbers through a VIN decoder in order to upload accurate information to the central database. By adding TOPS Public Search citizens are able to search for towed vehicles via a municipal supplied public search portal.
	TOPS Public Search is used by Cities, Police & Sheriff departments and tow operators to offer a web-enabled search portal for citizens. This tool enables citizens to accurately find and retrieve their vehicles. Citizens searching for their vehicles are required to enter their License Tag or VIN, and upon successful entry will receive results indicating tow status, storage location and a map to the storage lot. TOPS Public Search includes optional setup choices allowing the search provider to exclude certain storage lots from search, the ability to show pricing and or price details, the ability to flag HOLD vehicles with pricing or not, and options to capture searching party name and phone number, or Insurance company name and claim number.
	TOPS Municipal is a web-based search portal designed specifically for Police Departments, 311 and 911 giving them search inquiries into storage lots associated with municipal and non-consent towing. This search offers additional data points over the TOPS Public Search portal, with the ability to search using wild card searches of VIN or License Tag as well as the ability to view a full inventory list. Additional reporting can be incorporated based on the needs of the law enforcement agency.
	TOPS Web is used as a web interface for dispatching contract tow operators where TOPS is used to manage municipal towing. TOPS Web allows the end user to receive and acknowledge new call requests. This tool is used by tow operators who use TOPS or alternate tow software packages. If the contract tow operator does use TOPS, calls are automatically pushed to the tow operators TOPS program upon call acknowledgement.
	TOPS Link is a web-based tool for remote new call entry into a TOPS system. This tool offers a one-to-one relationship between the requesting company and the tow operator or municipal auto pound. TOPS Link users can monitor dispatch status and view inventory lists for stored vehicles, all from a secure internet portal. Municipalities use TOPS Link to track non-consent towing by having non-consent tow operators electronically enter new tows into the Municipality's Private Property Impound inventory database, which can also tie to TOPS Public Search and TOPS Municipal. Non-consent tow operators also use this tool to remove vehicles from their inventory when released or auctioned. more
	TOPS Mobile is accessible through the use of a web-enabled mobile device, allowing tow drivers to see current calls and offering the ability for tow drivers to update call time stamps and other call data as calls are being worked. TOPS Mobile offers real-time call updating without the need for voice communication via radio or telephone with the dispatch office. This tool is extremely helpful in accurately recording arrival times where arrival ETAs are important. more
	TOPS gps is a GPS fleet tracking tool integrated with TOPS to offer an active visual dispatching tool. With this integration, tow dispatch data, including Unassigned calls, Assigned call locations and call destinations are available for viewing on a common map with your tow fleet. Having this type of data allows operators the ability to assign the closest available tow truck to unassigned calls and/or identify the truck which will complete his current job in proximity to the next unassigned call. In addition, users are able to see the current dispatch status on the map in order to gauge current productivity.