Extreme heat keeps local tow companies busy

For three generations, Randy Partlow Jr.’s family has been helping others, behind the wheel of a towing and service truck across the Coachella Valley.

But Partlow said things have been rising for him and other drivers at ABC Towing in Coachella, and he’s not just talking about the temperatures.

“A normal, regular day has 7, 10, to 12 calls,” he said. “Right now, we’re doing 15 to 20, and then some.”

He said the summer season is one of the busiest times for towing companies in the valley, with extreme heat taking an extreme toll on rides. especially on tires and batteries.

“Blowouts, wore outs, people are hot [and] they’re hitting their roundabouts,” Partlow said. “Lots of tires and exploding batteries.”

The heat, he said, even poses challenges for drivers, including dehydration.

“I’ve ran into it [and] I’ve had other drivers run into it,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep that water fluid going. That’s all there is to it. Even if you don’t think you need it, you need it.”

When KESQ and CBS Local 2 caught up with Partlow Saturday, he answered a dozen calls in 8 hours.

One of them included La Quinta resident Diane Remai, who was surprised to find her car had a dead battery.

“Just went and got in it, and went to go, and it wouldn’t start,” she said. “Just heard this ‘click, click, click,’ and I knew it had to be the battery.”

But in a few minutes, her ride was back on track.

Meanwhile, Partlow and other drivers are driving home the advice of always being prepared when things heat up.

“Keep everybody going so everybody’s happy and out of the heat, [so] they can continue on with whatever they’ve got to do,” he said. “Keep them happy [and] go from there. My goal is to make me their favorite service guy.”

Partlow recommends having your battery, tires and fluids checked during the summer.

He also wants to stress the importance of slowing down, and moving over when a service truck is on the side of a road or highway.