The Highway Helper program provides free incident response and motorist assistance on Iowa’s major roadways. The program operates in the Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and Quad Cities metro areas, with the primary goal of supporting a safe and efficient transportation system for travelers and emergency responders.

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Services Provided

Highway Helper operators can quickly assist stranded motorists by providing:

  • Jump starts
  • Tire changes
  • Up to two gallons of fuel
  • Transportation to a safe location

In addition, each Highway Helper truck is equipped to:

  • Provide traffic control
  • Assist with quick clearance at crash or incident scenes
  • Support emergency responders
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Hours of Operations

Highway Helper trucks patrol the freeway and interstate systems daily and may also be dispatched to Iowa DOT roadways in designated metro areas. Service hours include:

  • Monday–Friday: 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Tow truck coverage (Des Moines only): 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
  • Overnight coverage (Des Moines only): 1 truck patrolling Sunday night through Thursday morning, 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Saturday (Des Moines only): 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Some holidays and special events: As scheduled

Need Help on the Highway?

If you’re traveling on Iowa’s interstates and need roadside assistance, dial 911 and ask for Highway Helper.

Our team provides free roadside assistance for:

- Minor crashes

- Disabled vehicles

- Flat tires, jump start, fuel delivery, and more

Highway Helper is here to keep you safe and get you back on the road.

The Iowa DOT Traffic Management Center (TMC) monitors roadways with traffic cameras and dispatches Highway Helper trucks as needed.

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Coverage Area

List items for Highway Helper Routes

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