Getting paid to close car doors might seem odd, but in Los Angeles it’s now a real job
With the emergence of autonomous vehicles on city streets, some local towing companies have begun serving as on-call assistants for robotaxis, which have limited physical capabilities.
Paying up to $24 per call, these companies receive the task of closing the door of a Waymo vehicle that passengers have left open. In more complex situations, such as when a car gets stuck on its route, the reward can reach from $60 to $80 for assistance in getting it moving again.
Technologies That Forget the Basics
A recent report indicates that tow truck drivers use the Honk app, which collaborates with the fleet of Waymo autonomous electric vehicles in the Los Angeles area. If a passenger exits without properly closing the door, the car does not move. It simply stands still, waiting for someone to arrive and perform this simple action. The call often comes precisely through a notification in the Honk app.
Caesar Marengo, owner of Milagro Towing from Inglewood, California, shared that through the Honk app he performs about three tasks per week for Waymo, usually to close a door or tow a vehicle that has run out of battery.
However, this work is not always profitable. Evangelica Cuevas, owner of JKK Towing, notes that the Honk app does not always provide the precise location of the vehicle. Because of this, workers sometimes have to walk around for hours to find it. Considering fuel costs, receiving $22-24 for closing doors or even $80 for a tow does not always make this job worthwhile.
The Costs of “Hunting” for Robotaxis
At the beginning of the month, several Waymo robotaxis stopped due to a power outage at traffic lights in San Francisco. Several towing companies were involved in clearing the incident’s aftermath. However, not everyone considers the rates offered by Waymo to be fair.
Jesus Ahuinga, manager of Alpha Towing and Recovery in San Francisco, stated that he refuses calls from Waymo. In his opinion, the offered rates cannot be compared to the usual $250 he charges for towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle. For many, it’s too big of a compromise.
Future Changes and Automatic Doors
The situation may change. While the Jaguar I-Pace models currently used by Waymo require manual door closing, the new robotaxis from the Chinese company Zeekr, which Waymo is currently testing, are equipped with sliding doors like those on a minivan. This means the doors can open and close automatically, potentially eliminating the need for human intervention for such simple operations.
This story vividly illustrates the transitional period in the implementation of autonomous technologies, where high-tech systems still require assistance in solving simple yet critical everyday problems. The economics of this new type of service also remain contentious, casting doubt on its long-term viability for small businesses. The success of future models, such as the Zeekr, may largely depend precisely on the ability to eliminate such shortcomings that today require human involvement.