Being paid to close a car door in the middle of the street sounds like a humorous idea, but in some areas of Los Angeles, it has become a legitimate job. As self-driving cars increasingly appear on the streets, a small but growing number of local towing companies are acting as on-demand assistants for robotaxis with limited operational capabilities.

For up to 24 US dollars per instance, these companies are paid to close doors left ajar by distracted passengers exiting Waymo robotaxis. In more complex situations, such as a vehicle stuck in the middle of the road, they can earn 60-80 US dollars to help the car move again.

A Waymo robotaxi. Photo: Shutterstock

A recent report highlights how tow truck drivers use an application called Honk, which contracts with Waymo's fleet of self-driving electric vehicles in the Los Angeles area.

If a passenger exits without properly closing the door, the vehicle will not move. It simply waits, improperly parked on the street, until someone arrives to complete the task. That person typically arrives following a notification from the Honk application.

According to Cesar Marenco, owner of Milagro Towing in Inglewood, California, who spoke with the Washington Post, he handles about three calls per week for Waymo through the Honk application, usually to close doors or tow vehicles with dead batteries.

This job is not truly profitable. JKK Towing owner, Evangelica Cuevas, stated that the Honk application does not always provide them with the vehicle's exact location, meaning they might have to walk around for up to one hour just to find it.

Considering fuel costs, receiving 22-24 US dollars to close a door or up to 80 US dollars to tow a vehicle does not always yield a profit.

In early december, some Waymo self-driving taxis ceased operations after a power outage incident at traffic lights across San Francisco. Several recovery companies were notified of this disruption. Not everyone believed the prices Waymo offered were fair.

Jesus Ajuiniga, manager of Alpha Towing and Recovery in San Francisco, stated that he declined calls from Waymo. He mentioned that the offered price was nowhere near the 250 US dollars he typically charges to tow a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Things may start to change. While the Jaguar I-Pace models primarily used by Waymo require manual door closing, the new robotaxis manufactured by China's Zeekr, which Waymo is testing, feature minivan-like sliding doors, meaning the doors can be opened and closed automatically.

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