Latest news with #HighwayHelper
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New ‘Highway Helper' at Sioux City to provide help to stranded motorists
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.' Story continues below Top Story: More than $40K raised from 11th Annual Pete Goede ALS Benefit Concert Crime: Dumped dog gets rescued, now happily wagging his tail Sports: Bishop Heelan boys and girls track win MRAC Team titles 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Iowa DOT's ‘Highway Helper' program coming to Sioux City
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will be bringing its 'Highway Helper' program to Sioux City. According to a release from the Iowa DOT, Sioux City will be joining the DOT's list of cities beginning on May 7. The goal of the Highway Helpers program is to keep traffic flowing smoothly at all times across the state of Iowa. The release states that the program does this by offering free service assists to drivers who experience a flat tire, need a jump start, or one of the many other sorts of roadside services someone may need. They also help remove debris from the road and aid first responders when traffic control is needed. Story continues below You can contact Highway Helpers via their non-emergency line at 712-279-6960. Highway Helpers will also be on patrol from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. during the week. In Sioux City, they will be focused on patrolling Interstate 29, Highway 20, and Highway 75. Other cities in Iowa served by Highway Helpers include: Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and the newly added Sioux City. You can view a full list of Highway Helper services below. Debris removal Traffic control Checking welfare Tagging abandoned vehicles Providing fuel Providing directions Jump starting Motorist transport Push/pull vehicles Repair flat tires Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
