ROAD EMERGENCIES PART OF LIFE IN TOW

CAPE GIRARDEAU - As long as he can remember, John James has been around the wrecker business. Like most jobs, it is changing all the time, offering new challenges and opportunities to serve the public.

"It takes a lot of experience and is much more diversified than it used to be, and more technical," explained James. "Equipment is much more expensive. It takes a lot of figuring out, and it takes the right equipment to do the right job.

"We used to put a chain on something and move it, but it's not that way anymore. Many things are delicate, and you need special equipment."

James has been president of the family-owned James Wrecker Co. since 1976. This year James Wrecker will observe its 60th anniversary. The firm was founded in 1930 by his father, Joe James Sr.

James recalled that when his father entered the business he had pretty well the only service around, except for a few salvage yards. It was that way for 20 years, until more people got into the business.

Now, James Wrecker Co. has four units: a hydraulic flatbed truck; a large, hydraulic wrecker used on heavy equipment and vehicles up to 60,000 pounds; and two medium-sized wreckers.

The big truck is the 64th unit the company has owned, said James, and it will do almost anything, including pulling big trucks that break down anywhere in the country. James built the truck himself to save money to meet his needs. "It will pretty well handle anything I need," he said.

He also built the flatbed, which can haul almost anything up to 18,000 pounds.

Those large units enable James to do a variety of work, making the business much different from the one his father started.

Over the years, James wreckers have assisted construction companies on a number of projects. One such project was putting steel in place for the Union Electric water tank on Gordonville Road.

Another big part of the company's work is helping to put specialized equipment in tight places. For example, James put a large crankshaft grinder in the Auto Tire and Parts building; moved a statue into place at St. Vincent's Church; and has helped put up playground equipment in Arena Park. James wreckers also assisted in moving two locomotives to playground areas in Capaha and Arena parks.

For 36 years James wreckers have been donated to picked up and delivered the large trees used for the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign.

With the flatbed, James said a lot of custom transporting and cross-country trips are made. The big truck keeps James on the road a lot, especially to pick up rigs of independent truckers. "If somebody has something major wrong, they usually want it fixed locally, so we travel out to pick it up," he said. Long trips like this were once rare, but now James averages about one a week.

There are still the local calls for towing cars, pulling vehicles out of ditches, and hauling those in accidents. Often, because of the special equipment his company has, James said they are called to the scene after others have failed to get the job done.

"We do what we can," said James. "If I am there without the piece of equipment, I radio back to get whatever I need. I have never had anything that I couldn't do, but it just takes time. You just don't go and winch something out real quick; you have to be precise and accurate."

Safety is an important concern of a wrecker operator, particularly at accident scenes where there might be a chance of an explosion, a cable snapping, or something breaking loose. At accident scenes, James said he works closely with other rescue workers and law enforcement officers to ensure safety.

"This is a very high risk business," explained James. "Common sense is a key. I'm very safety conscious because I was brought up that way."

Having the opportunity to travel, meet people, and help people with problems are the most enjoyable aspects of operating a wrecker, said James. "That's my business, helping others out. There is quite a challenge sometimes, and I enjoy that, and there is some satisfaction of helping somebody."

The worst part of the job, James said, are long and odd hours. "I can be sitting down to a nice supper, or be at home with my family, and have to go to work. I'm up all hours of the night. There are a lot of trips and long hours involved. In times of bad weather or floods, I can be up several days at a time."

James said his 8-year-old son is showing an interest, and likely will keep the family's wrecker tradition going. His wife also works in the business.

James Wrecker Co. has customers all over the area, and some 200 miles away. He said the company's reputation for good service has kept it strong the last 60 years, and will keep it that way.

"Whatever they need, we try to meet their needs," said James. "If the job is 100 miles from home, or right here, we try to treat everybody fairly. I'm proud of it and will do my best to keep it up. I enjoy what I'm doing and wouldn't really do anything else."