Weeks before the snow hits, customers have lined up to enter service shops before the snow falls. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By Josh Ryan

Check-up time

Auto shops in high demand ahead of winter

Oct 20, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The time of the year where snow covering frozen streets is getting closer and closer in the Battlefords, which has local drivers rushing to get their vehicles tuned up.

battlefordsNOW spoke to several auto service businesses in the community, who said bookings have started to fill up much faster than usual. Cory Herle, owner of Northside Auto Service, said they’ve been booked solid for weeks as winter nears.

‘We’re usually solidly booked for one week, but when tires come up, then it doubles” he said. “It’s a little extra busy around this time every year.”

Herle noted that he and his staff are fortunate to have avoided many of the difficulties that other business have faced during the pandemic.In gearing up for their busiest stretch of 2021, he highlighted tires, batteries, block heaters and coolant as the most common items to check on for drivers, particularly batteries.

“It’s something that gets forgotten,” Herle said. “Sometimes batteries work fine in the summertime, but as soon as temperatures cool, they don’t work as well as they do in the summer, so they fail real fast.”

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

To avoid major issues, Herle advised regular maintenance, such getting oil changes done on time.

‘We test the battery, check tire pressure, antifreeze,” he said. “And we test the block heater to make sure you’re ready for winter.”

Laurie Shury, controller for Lash-Berg Towing, said they’re ready for the rush that comes during the first meaningful snowfall of the season.

“Hard to tell until the weather man decides what the weather is going to do,” she said.

Since breakdowns are the most common reason for requiring a tow, Shury said staying disciplined is key.

“Make sure you maintain your batteries and plug in your vehicles,” she said. “Usually, it’s being towed because it wasn’t plugged in overnight or has a faulty battery.

She alsostressed the importance of staying focused while behind the wheel. Driver inattention and distraction was a major contributing factor in 16.3 per cent of casualty collisions across the province in 2019.

“Drive safe, stay off your cell phones and watch for working vehicles on highways,” Shury said.

Many customers at auto shops have required either work on their tires or are look to purchase/transition tires.

Dan McEachern, owner of North Battleford OK Tire, said it’s hard to determine how this compared to last year, but that the staff is ready for a rush of business. McEchern mentioned more people are shopping for winter tires this year, which could possibly relate to concerns about shipment shortages. While the store manages just fine on inventory, he said there could be issues at some point.

“Our warehousing system stocks inventory pretty good, but certain sizes seem to be missing,” he said.

“When one manufacturer runs out of something that puts pressure on all manufacturers we’re dealing with. So, I’m sure there’s a possibility of running out of some sizes this winter.”

He also recommended regular maintenance as the the way to assure less significant visits to service shops and dealerships.

“It’s the most important way of protecting the value of your vehicle and making sure it’s running when you need it,” he said.

(Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

—

josh.ryan@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports