A social media post from a local business has stirred up conversation about wrecker policies in Ottawa County.
“We want to share an important update regarding towing services,” the business, Grand Valley Towing LLC, wrote on Feb. 3. “Ottawa County has recently returned to a no-preference rotation system. This means … if you’re involved in an accident, slide off the road, or need towing or roadside assistance, dispatch will automatically call the next company on the rotation list — unless you specifically request a towing company by name.”
The post also alleged Ottawa County has “added 10 companies to a single zone that historically could be handled by just two (or) three providers.”
“This has created an extremely saturated rotation and will significantly impact small, family-owned businesses like ours,” the post continued. “If you value our service, response time, and care we provide, (it’s) more important than ever to request Grand Valley Towing by name when you call for assistance or when an officer arrives on scene.”
The post received over 100 shares and dozens of comments. But what, exactly, is the new policy in Ottawa County? According to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the change took place in October 2025 — with a goal to protect citizens from excessive charges and extended wait times.
What was Ottawa County’s wrecker policy?
Ottawa County, according to Captain Eric Westveer, has always utilized a zone structure. Previously, tow companies were required to apply annually to be listed within a zone. When a driver called OCSO requiring a tow, they would be asked to select from a list of providers in their zone.
Westveer said that practice led to inconsistent pricing, administrative concerns and other hardships for citizens.
What is Ottawa County’s new wrecker policy?
Ottawa County now operates under a No Preference Wrecker Policy. Now, tow companies can apply to participate anytime and can discontinue participation anytime, rather than filing an annual application, according to Westveer.
The policy also establishes pricing standards and service expectations for participating companies, he said. Drivers can still request a preferred company, as stated by Grand Valley Towing, but if no preference is given, OCSO will assign the next tow company in the rotation.
Westveer disagreed with the allegation of more towing companies per zone.
“The number of wrecker companies operating within each zone has largely remained consistent following the policy change,” Westveer told The Sentinel. “What has changed is the manner in which companies are requested and selected for service.”
What companies are listed for each zone?
Ottawa County is split into four zones: Zone 1 (Northwest), Zone 2 (Northeast), Zone 3 (Southwest) and Zone 4 (Southeast). Here are the companies associated with each:
Zone One
Zone Two
Zone Three
Zone Four
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County has a new tow truck policy. Here’s how it affects you
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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