Image courtesy: Ross Lavigne

By Darren Rathwell

Calls more than double the usual amount

Frozen weather and frozen vehicles: Medicine Hat tow trucks running to keep up

Dec 30, 2021 | 3:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Boris Uriev isn’t used to this kind of weather.

“I came to Medicine Hat less than a week ago. I lived in Ottawa before and I don’t remember such cold weather in my last 20 years in Ottawa,” Uriev said.

The civil engineer watched as his frozen car, newly leased just three days ago, was towed away Thursday.

His is one of many vehicles that local towing companies are dealing with during the current cold snap.

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“We’re usually running from six thirty, seven o’ clock in the morning, right up to eight, nine, 10, 11 o’clock at night… (we) try to keep people going,” Willie Langille, co-owner of Willie’s 24 Hour Towing said.

With the past three days alone seeing temperatures below -30 C, it’s perhaps no surprise that towing companies are busy.

Langille says while typically they have about 15 calls a day, now it’s more in the order of 30 to 45.

The mechanical problems that arise for vehicles due to cold weather are many.

“Starters (are) taking a little bit more to turn them over, more power drains the battery a little bit more, makes alternator work a little bit more,” Langille said, adding that newer vehicles are also seeing battery issues from computers inside.

And hauling vehicles away isn’t the only service being offered.

“People (are) starting up their cars and beating off the snow and locking up their vehicles,” Langille laughed, “Keys are inside so you gotta open ’em up.”

Of course, wait times for assistance can vary. The Alberta Motor Association, for example, says Medicine Hat is seeing two hours for its services, such as a boost, a tow or fuel delivery.

Demand for the AMA’s service however has skyrocketed in the city, up 300 per cent since Christmas Day, despite their battery replacement service being suspended province-wide.

Langille offers advice for motorists.

“Regular maintenance, make sure everything’s good before the cold weather hits, make sure you plug ’em in.”

Because as towing operators will tell you, even below -20 C over time can mean an icy issue from getting your vehicle on the road.