Life After The Hook!

In past posts I have mentioned Life After The Hook, and this past week a close friend and once teacher of mine decided to hang up the hooks after 9 years. Now to some 9 years may be a short time in comparison to their career. But in my opinion this man still deserves his fair respect as he wanders away from an industry that was such a passion to him!

Jeff Derouchie from Cornwall, Ontario was the first supervisor I ever worked for. He always had a passion for the industry, a knack for chasing and a perfection in recovery. I truly owe alot of what i have learned over the years to Jeff.

Here are his words after 9 years behind the hook:

My Journey, 9 years later

What most people don't know about me was all my life I wanted to be a police officer, the thought of helping others is all I ever wanted to do ... Unfortunately that was not in the cards, life had other plans in life I guess. In October 2006 I started my journey towing! A job or I guess lifestyle I quickly fell in love with working right along side the police officers I once wanted to be. This story I've always wondered how it would go, would I write about the negative? 9 years later not making 2 pennies more then day 1 or all the broken promises like incentive bonuses, partnerships? Trips? All the hopes and dreams crushed ... But instead I take a deep breath and let it out with a sigh, I will focus on 9 years of greatness, I've worked for them all.... If anyone has seen things it's me, here's a few facts over the years and yes I'm about to blow my own horn.... Every tow show I've taken my truck too (4) but no ones counting this boy has taken 1st place at each show in the beauty contest and lights! When I attended my Wreckmaster course with 29 other guys, I was the only one to ace the test 100%! I have towed for Formula1,Indy car, NASCAR! Rolex series, Ferrari series, and everything that races on dirt.

For those who are not familiar with towing it is like you see on TV well most of it lol ... in Cornwall it is very competitive, you don't just sit around and wait for the phone to ring lol... We all have police scanners, when we here an accident on the scanner it's like dropping the green flag at Daytona! The race is on ... We try our hardest to arrive on scene first to secure the job! With that said, it also means that sometimes (actually most times) a tow truck is the first on scene! Think about that .... Most of my 9 years I ruled this industry, on scene way before emergency personnel, but this means it's often time to jump into action to try save someone's life! I'm proud to say because of us Tow Operators getting there quick I've saved 3 lives over the years, CPR is the best investment anyone can have!

Towing ... An industry that never sleeps, there's no 8 to 5 here, when your desperately trying to get off the roads cause there glare ice, we're gearing up to go out on them! The towing biz never closes it goes 24/7 .... All to make enough money to just get by!

I will definitely post another story some day as right now things are still a lil sour, but for now I'll say goodnight as I prepare for tomorrow's final ride, I will suit up one more time, one more day till I say Goodbye.

"See you in the ditch"
071028

This man has put his time into the industry, and I personally 
would like to wish him all the best in whatever journey comes next! Thank you Jeff Derouchie for all you have done!

10-39 buddy!

Shawn Michaud
Cornwall, Ontario
WM 140989