THUNDER BAY -- The frigid weather is playing havoc with vehicles in the Thunder Bay area.
Many city residents had difficulty getting back to work on Wednesday after the Christmas break because their cars wouldn't start.
The phone hasn't stopped ringing at tow truck companies such as Gary's Towing.
"It's been crazy busy here," said co-owner Jocelyn Allen in an interview with tbnewswatch.com.
"Waits are anywhere from six to eight hours."
She said most calls are for people requesting battery boosts but "there are lots of no-starts because their batteries are already dead as they didn't plug in."
Allen said it had been a hectic time for her business for four days straight, ever since the cold spell began.
Gary's had six tow trucks on the road on Wednesday, with all available staff on duty. "Everybody we can bring in is in," Allen said, but a couple of workers are home with the flu.
It was a similar situation at Cozy Corner Towing.
A spokesperson said the company was "pretty much" not accepting any more calls for service because there was such a backup.
She said they were only able to take callers' names and numbers, with a promise to call back when and if a truck became available.
Cozy Corner's entire crew was already deployed, with five trucks on the road.
Jocelyn Allen at Gary's offered one piece of advice to motorists. "Plug your car in. Even before you call us, plug it in. Because if you don't, it probably isn't going to start, even with a boost."
