SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – Car breakdowns can happen at any time and can be a big inconvenience. If you travel Interstate 29 from the South Dakota border to Salix or Highway 20 from Lawton or Highway 75 just south of Hinton, there is now relief if your car breaks down. It’s a service called Highway Helper.

“Highway Helper is a safety service patrol and we offer free assistance to the traveling public. For example, if you run out of fuel, if you get into a crash, they can help clean up debris on the roadway to get travelers going to where they need to be going,” said Ashley Hochberger, Program Manager for Highway Helper.

Highway Helper is a private business contracted to the Iowa Department of Transportation. They were already serving four other communities in Iowa, and started serving the Sioux City area this past Wednesday

“There was a demand here. They approached the D.O.T. and we were actually able to kind of look at the data, the traffic volume. What is law enforcement going out there is it the debris or other?” added Hochberger. “Calls that maybe Highway Helper could assist with so that it frees up law enforcement and then our maintenance personnel. The data proved that it’s definitely it warranted Highway Helper here.”

The service runs Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are two trucks on the road during those hours and there are four full time drivers employed. They help with everything from jump starting a car, repairing flat tires to providing two gallons of gas. All for free. The goal is to safely get drivers back on the road and on to their destination.

“We get them moving quickly. We keep them safe; we keep them in their cars. We do the work while they stay in their cars safe. Our truck protects them and kicks the traffic over if we have to and then gets them on the road as quick as we can,” said Travis Schooley, Program Manager for Highway Helper.

Highway Helper services include:

• Debris removal
• Traffic control
• Checking welfare
• Tagging abandoned vehicles
• Providing fuel
• Providing directions
• Jump starting
• Motorist transport
• Push/pull vehicles
• Repair flat tires

Highway Helper is contracted with the Iowa DOT to serve the Sioux City area for three years, then that contract can be renewed.