Towing company snags award

aldrich m. tan • aldrich.tan@indiosun.com

Most people are not happy when their car gets towed away, but the owner of Plaza Towing said he does the best he can to treat them properly and fairly.

“They may not be happy about paying for fees, but they understand why they are paying the fees,” said Trent Butzlaff, 38.

It is that type of service that earned the Indio-based towing company national recognition.

On Nov. 21, Plaza Towing received the Order of the Towman at a ceremony at the Camden Yard Pavilion in Baltimore.

Plaza Towing joins at least 50 towing companies nationwide honored for their professionalism and dedication to the community they serve, according to Steve Calitri, publisher of American Towman Magazine, which distributes the award during its annual exposition.

“I had no idea, so it was a very pleasant surprise to promote professionalism in the industry,” Butzlaff said of the award.

American Towman Magazine receives nominations for the Order of the Towman from police chiefs. Indio Police Chief Brad Ramos said he nominated Plaza Towing months ago.

The Indio Police Department has a long history working with Plaza Towing, and Ramos said he wanted to honor Butzlaff and his company for how they help resolve towing issues in the city.

“Towing at times gets a bad reputation, and it is good to recognize people for their hard work,” Ramos said.

Butzlaff said the lessons he has learned about proper customer service come from his father, Bob Butzlaff, who founded the company in 1972.

Bob Butzlaff, 68, said he started towing at age 16 while working at a gas station in Greene, Iowa. He moved to the Coachella Valley in 1968 and opened a Shell gas station with towing and repair services in Indio.

Trent Butzlaff said he often jumped into the tow truck to go on calls with his father and spent a lot of time with the drivers.

“This is something that I had always enjoyed,” he said. “My dad was my biggest mentor.”

Butzlaff officially started working full time for his father in 1992. He helped expand the company from six tow trucks to 22.

The elder Butzlaff officially retired four years ago but still spends time with his son at the towing company.

“I still trust his opinion, and I look to his advice all the time,” Trent Butzlaff said.

Bob Butzlaff said he is proud of his son for the national honor the company has received.

“It was great,” he said. “(My son) has taken the business to another level.”

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