Bitter cold keeping tow truck operators hopping
AMA HAS HAD MORE THAN 30,000 CALLS PROVINCEWIDE SINCE START OF COLD SNAP
Extreme cold weather across the province has led to a very busy week for tow truck companies across Alberta.
From dead batteries to collisions and tows, teams of dispatchers, drivers and other workers have dedicated their days to help drivers get their cars back on the road safely. The Alberta Motor Association reported as of Wednesday morning, they have received over 30,000 calls for roadside assistance.
“AMA has all available call-takers, dispatchers, contractors and service vehicle operators working to help people as safely and quickly as possible,” the association states in a release. “It’s all-hands-on-deck across the province to get motorists and their vehicles to safety.”
Locally, roadside-assistance providers are seeing a large backlog of calls from drivers waiting to be helped. With wait times beginning at two hours, drivers have to be patient while waiting for help to get to them in a priority sequence.
“Right now we are seeing a lot of people in need of battery boosts, a lot of boosts and unlocks, so if somebody is warming up their car and then they lock their keys in the door, that kind of thing,” says Chris Johansen, driver supervisor with TnT Towing. “Wait times for someone to come out are right around two to four hours, depending what is going on elsewhere throughout the area. Today alone we have about 50 holding right now at a time.”
While many people are refraining from spending time outdoors, due to the risk of frostbite, roadside assistance providers spend their shift in the elements helping people with their vehicles
Although the temperatures make it hard to enjoy the outdoors, Johansen says the dry, frosty conditions help them stay dry and warmer, and easier to travel on compared to wet snow conditions.
“Our crews are dressed for the weather and they don’t mind it too much. It’s not sloppy, windy and warm, and me, personally, when I am out there I like it because it is dry. You can lay on the ground and just dust off, compared to when it is slushy,” says Johansen. “The highways are OK for driving because it is cold. The colder it is the better the road is; it’s not that warmish temperature where it can get slippery, but in the city it is a little slippery in parts because it gets so compacted and people driving on it causes ice, but the roads aren’t too bad.”
To make sure your vehicle can withstand the frigid weather, be sure to plug in your vehicle while it sits overnight, and make sure coolant and oil levels are topped up and recently changed. If you are in need of roadside assistance, contact a local towing company, but be patient as wait times could be a few hours.
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