Driver Shortage Causing Longer Response Times

In Baton Rouge, a shortage of tow truck drivers has been reported to cause extensive traffic delays. That’s because in the COVID economy, finding qualified tow truck drivers is hard.  

Suzy Simoneaux of Louisiana Towing is down to just six when she usually has ten. She said, "It makes our process slower on getting customers served.” 

On the Mississippi River Bridge, where a towed vehicle is almost a daily occurrence, a wreck this week took two hours to clear, a problem tow companies say is becoming worse. 

Although the company didn't handle that particular wreck, Simoneaux says the problem is pervasive on the West Side. 

"Wreckers, you know, it's just not any driver. You do have to be trained in either the light-duty wrecker or the heavy-duty wrecker and those drivers are few and far between right now." 

The number of tow companies on the west side has been cut in half as well, from four to two. 

Lt. Ken Albarez with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said, "We try to work with the local companies as best we can, and we try to keep in mind that it's just not their fault a lot of times because they're stretched pretty thin."  Source