The Highway Helper program provides incident response and free assistance to stranded motorists on the roadways in the Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Quad Cities metros. The focus of the Highway Helper program is to provide travelers and emergency responders with a safe and efficient transportation system. The Highway Helper services can quickly address the needs of stranded motorists by providing; jump starts, tire changes, up to two gallons of fuel, and transportation to a safe location. In addition, each truck is equipped to provide traffic control and quick clearance for emergency responders.
Highway Helper trucks patrol the freeway and interstate systems and are dispatched to other Iowa DOT roadways in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and Quad Cities metro areas from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays in Des Moines; and some holidays and special events. In addition to patrolling the area, the Iowa DOT Traffic Management Center uses traffic cameras to monitor roadways, and dispatches Highway Helper trucks to needed locations.
The public can request assistance from the Highway Helper by calling 911.