Re-Post from WYFF

https://www.wyff4.com/article/soaring-gas-prices-felt-across-different-upstate-industries-altering-business/40256763

We came across this article posted on the Greenville SC News and Weather station WYFF News 4 website. It’s worth a read to anyone who has to fill a tow truck with fuel! We’re sharing it here with thanks to WYFF!

As gas and diesel prices continue to pound the towing industry with average prices around $5 per gallon.  According to AAA, two main factors for the drastic rise includes the costs of crude oil, and the demand.

“In South Carolina, we’ve gone up over a quarter in a week’s time,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas spokesperson. “So, to say that gas prices are on the rise would be an understatement. So, in fact, gas prices are rising and it’s been this way for the last couple of weeks.”

According to AAA, the average cost of regular unleaded in South Carolina was $4.60.

However, it’s the rising costs in diesel fuel specifically that is having a huge impact on certain businesses like the towing industry.

We can’t run the trucks without the diesel

“We can’t run the trucks without the diesel,” Theresa Rodriguez with Willimon’s Towing said. “Unfortunately, because of diesel prices, it makes it harder for us to help these people in the community because they can’t afford it, and we can’t afford not to have those customers. That’s what keeps these trucks on the roads.”

According to AAA, the average cost of diesel in South Carolina was $5.63.

Willimon’s Towing has been in Greenville since 1967. The owners said this is one of the worst spikes in gas prices they’ve ever seen, now forced to raise its service prices, to help offset the costs of gas as a 24/7 company. Willimon’s Towing averages anywhere from 50 to 75 tows a week.

“The cost of diesel going up has forced us to raise our prices even for our smallest in-town tows,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes you have people call in the night, and you send a truck out and they run 30 miles. You get there, and the people no longer need a tow. So, we’ve burnt diesel. It’s forced us to have to raise the prices on each individual tow.”

Rodriguez said if the prices continue to rise, so will their service prices. She said they have to continue operating as an essential service to the community.

They’re Tow Truck Drivers…

“They’re (tow truck drivers) just like emergency responders,” Rodriguez said. “When there’s accidents throughout the city, these trucks are the ones that clear the roads. When there’s disabled vehicles throughout the city, these trucks are the ones that clear the roads.”

Willimon’s said the gas prices are impacting everyone in different ways, especially if someone with car trouble has to pay more to have their car moved, in addition to costs associated with issues they’re having with their cars to require a towing service.