AASHTO Journal - Tennessee DOT Expands HELP Program to Rural Areas

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expanding its successful Highway Emergency Local Patrol or “HELP” program to assist motorists in rural areas of the state.

[Above photo by Tennessee DOT]

Currently, the agency’s HELP Trucks patrol the state’s four largest urban areas – Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. With additional funding approved in 2025 by the state legislature and Governor Bill Lee (R), the HELP program will launch a Rural Service Program this spring.

By the summer of 2026, that rural HELP service should extend across all four of Tennessee DOT’s service regions, covering more than 870 miles of interstate, the agency said.

“In rural areas where crashes are often the most severe, the Rural Service Patrol fills a critical gap in emergency response coverage – improving safety and reducing incident clearance times,” explained Will Reid, Tennessee DOT commissioner, in a statement.

“We are grateful for the strong leadership that has made this expansion possible to enhance Tennessee DOT’s mission to deliver a safe, reliable transportation system that supports economic growth and quality of life,” he added.

[Editor’s note: Recent video seen below from Tennessee DOT chronicling the agency’s response to Winter Storm Fern also highlighted the roadway rescue capabilities of its HELP trucks as well.]

The agency noted that, in May 2025, for the very first time the state’s annual budget included additional dedicated and recurring General Fund dollars for transportation – $80 million in recurring revenue made possible by reallocating a portion of the existing tire sales tax revenue to Tennessee DOT.

The agency said that additional money is primarily planned for state-of-good-repair maintenance of pavement and bridges, with roughly $16.7 million set aside to find the Rural Service Patrol.

Since its establishment in 1999, the agency said its HELP Program has reduced highway congestion, improved roadway safety, and assisted thousands of motorists in distress. With the addition of the Rural Service Patrol, Tennessee DOT said it is “strengthening its commitment” to protecting lives and keeping state highways safe and moving.