Plug in your vehicle

By Regan Tate

Medicine Hat Tow Truck companies extremely busy due to cold

Jan 12, 2024 | 1:38 PM

The extreme cold is resulting in a huge demand for services offered by local tow-truck companies.

Kraig Kohls with Auto Spa Towing in Medicine Hat estimates the company had already responded to between 150 and 200 calls as of 1:30 pm Friday afternoon.

Kohls says those in need of a boost can expect about a two hour wait.
Anyone needing a tow-truck is going to have to wait until Monday or Tuesday. Kohls say this cold is extremely hard on tow-trucks and could cause them to break-down.

Provincewide, the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) said it is “all hands on deck” this week.

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Automotive Services Supervisor Brandon Klassen said their members responded to more than 10,000 calls for service for roadside assistance on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

He told Pattison Media that the extreme cold weather has lead to far more people than usual needing help with their vehicles.

“It’s 10 times our normal call volume as it relates to boosting and eight times our normal call volume as it relates to towing, so yeah, for sure an increase due to the cold weather,” said Klassen.

As of this publication, drivers in Edmonton can expect to wait up to 121 hours, or approximately five days, for towing or winching.

AMA’s estimate in Calgary is 48 hours, 24 hours in Grande Prairie, 13 hours in Red Deer, and six hours in Lethbridge.

Klassen said he expects this trend to persist until early next week.

“We are bracing in here for the next two days of an incredibly-high call volume. It’s all hands on deck for AMA and all of our roadside providers out there. Every available resource is out helping Albertans so we thank everyone for their patience,” Klassen said.

AMA advises drivers in Alberta to leave their vehicles plugged in when not in use if possible, consider postponing any non-essential travel, and to have a roadside emergency kit in their vehicle.

Some of the items that AMA recommends having in an emergency roadside kit include:

• 12 ft Booster cables (6 gauge)
• All valuables removed card
• Multi-tool (26-in-1)
• Cotton gloves
• LED flashlight
• Survival tool
• First aid kit
• “Call Police” banner
• Shovel
• 2 Reflective armbands
• Reflective triangle
• Hand/foot warmers
• Blanket
• 2 Bungee cords
• Poncho
• 2 Cable ties
• 2 Tea light candles
• Duct tape
• Waterproof matches