Neema (Towing) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
Believe it or not, I always wanted to be a tow truck driver. It looked fun. My mom used to work here; she used to be a ticket writer. I started out as a ticket writer for a year and a half, then I switched over to the towing department. But I always wanted to be a tow operator; that's my fascination-- being able to tow a vehicle and do something they say a man's job.

What does it take to do this job? Does it make a difference being a woman?
I try not to let the little things get to me. There are things that bother me - in this line of business, I just brush it off. It's like, you're walking down the street, and there's a bunch of kids playing around -- they want to make jokes, call you names, or say little stuff, but whatever. You can't let it bother you. People will say what they want to, you can't stop people from speaking their mind. I'm quite sure if I was a regular citizen in the street, I'd probably say little smart stuff too. I don't think there's a job out there that's too dangerous for a woman. It might be hard; it could be dangerous, but not too dangerous for a woman. Look at me, I'm a tow truck driver, I used to work nights, but I've never had a problem.

What are the traits that make a good tower?
This is a schoolyard thing here. You see a guy that hates you from the time he sees you pull up. If you look like you're shaky or you look nervous and they're wound up- you don't need to be doing this job. People want their car, so I'm straight with them. If I've run the tag and the radio says that the tag owes tickets, nine times out of ten we're going to take the car. If they say that you're clean and no tickets are owed, I'll give it back to you. Then they know you're not kidding. If you look scared just because they ran up on you, people take advantage of that. They start yelling at you. "Put my car down!" And if you start looking even more nervous they know they're getting to you because they're acting crazy. They think the crazier they act, the more chance they have of me putting their car down. Whereas if you cut all that crap out from the beginning, then you just let them know this is what I'm going to do.

I'm doing a hard job; getting some muscles too. I guess this beats paying a couple of dollars to go to the gym and everything. This is what I wanted to do. So no discriminations-- if I want to do the job and am capable of doing the job, then these wheels and rails are what comes with it. Sometimes I get 'ugh, it's a female.' Or sometimes I get, 'oh my god, is she all right, she know what she's doing?' Or sometimes I get some of the men come and tell me what to do and how to tow the vehicle. I just laugh. I know how to do my job. I was trained well. I had some men tell me, you can't do that, you shouldn't be doing that type of job, you need a little ladylike job, something at a desk. But this is my profession; this is what I love to do.

John (Towing) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I was a security supervisor with a company that was doing private contract work for the parking authority. And a couple of the managers and department heads saw my work ethic and they liked me and asked if I wanted a job. So I accepted and started working at the impoundment lot as a lot officer and I used to watch the drivers. They used to teach me stuff so when I started towing I was kind of a little bit ahead of the game. I just got really good. The hardest parts of the job, I like doing. I've been with the PPA since 1997, ten years. I've been driving for four years.

Why did you join the PPA?
Freedom. I love the freedom the most about it. If you do your job and do it right, it's incredible.

What are the traits that make a good tower?
This is a schoolyard thing here. You see a guy that hates you from the time he sees you pull up. If you look like you're shaky or you look nervous and they're wound up- you don't need to be doing this job. People want their car, so I'm straight with them. If I've run the tag and the radio says that the tag owes tickets, nine times out of ten we're going to take the car. If they say that you're clean and no tickets are owed, I'll give it back to you. Then they know you're not kidding. If you look scared just because they ran up on you, people take advantage of that. They start yelling at you. "Put my car down!" And if you start looking even more nervous they know they're getting to you because they're acting crazy. They think the crazier they act, the more chance they have of me putting their car down. Whereas if you cut all that crap out from the beginning, then you just let them know this is what I'm going to do.

Martin (Towing) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
My father works here. It's been in my blood. When I was going to high school I used to see my dad go to work, come from work and you know it's just a regular blue collar job. When I get my ten years in it'll be officially in my blood, but right now, fifty percent in my blood.

Why did you join the PPA?
My favorite thing about towing is it's kind of a job where you're [on] your own. You work alone. You're by yourself. You don't have a lot of hassle you do your job. And that's the kind of job that I can see myself doing. I'm not the office kind of person and this is right up my alley so that's what I really like about it.

What traits do you need to do this job well?
Your job is to just smooth out the situation. If you're uncomfortable, you've got to turn that around so that you're in control of the situation. You've got to outthink some people, man, and be quick. This is a job but it's also your livelihood. There is some danger in the job 'cuz sometimes a vehicle is all that a person has and sometimes people can't see their vehicle getting taken so they kind of lose it. If you do have too much compassion and you let people get the best of you, you let this job get the best of you, it'll shut you down. I've heard it all. I've heard FU, F your mother, F your father, including my father, yeah F him too. They flip me the bird. It'll take it's toll, like with any job. It's like being a police officer, you see a lot of things: you see dead bodies, you see criminals, you see it all. The job be the job, don't take it home with you.

NOTE: We are very sad to announce that Martin passed away peacefully this past year. We are honored to have personally worked with such a professional and joyful young man. He was full of life and warmth, and brought laughter to everyone around him. We offer our deepest condolences to Martin's family, friends and colleagues. We hope that those who watch Martin on the show will enjoy seeing him at his best and brightest.

Larry (Lot Officer) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I was in construction for twenty-five years. I retired from the wallpaper-hangers union, and I put an application in and I got hired here. I still tend bar on the weekends in a catering hall. We do weddings and parties.

Why did you join the PPA?
I have two kids in college and they'll both go to graduate school... I have one that just started college, so I got at least seven more years... until they make it big (laughs).

What traits do you need to do this job well?
You have to get along. We're here eight hours with each other. There are lots of times where you just want to grab somebody by the throat, but you can't. You just go in the bathroom and bang your head against the wall.

This is the busiest lot so you don't have time to chit-chat you know? You have to remember that this is their baby - their car. And they want their car. So you try to get them in and out, as painless as possible. I've been a bartender my whole life and this is sort of like tending a bar without giving out drinks. You give out their cars instead! You've got to be loose here, you can't be serious. You take your job serious but you got to keep people loose. And that's the way I am. Sometimes I'm funny at the window. My coworkers will get a big kick out of me. But sometimes I get yelled at by them too because I'm not so funny.