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Hoosier Helpers

Serving the Motoring Public on Indiana's Busiest Interstates

  A Hoosier Helper stops to help a motorist with a minor mechanical problem on the interstate.                                                                     

Hoosier Helper Staff

Hoosier Helpers provide an extra measure of security and safety to Indiana's busiest interstates.  If you've seen a Hoosier Helper vehicle pulled off to the side of the roadway, you may have seen a Hoosier Helper in their green vest and orange cap changing a flat tire, jump starting vehicles, providing water for overheated vehicles, providing enough fuel to a motorist to make it to a service station or perhaps helping with a minor mechanical problem.  Their goal is to help motorists in 20 minutes or less; and if that timeframe is not possible, they will call or wrecker or transport a motorist to a safe location off the roadway.  They are also an invaluable asset to various agencies including the Indiana State Police and local first responders to assist with various emergencies on the roadways.  Additionally, Hoosier Helpers are trained for medical emergencies.  Training includes First Aid, CPR, AED, HAZMAT response and medial helicopter training. 

Since the program began in Northwest Indiana in 1991, followed by the Indianapolis metropolitan area in 1997 and Southern Indiana near Louisville in 1999, the Hoosier Helpers staff have assisted over 350,000 motorists on the Indiana's busiest interstates. 

Hoosier Helper Vehicles are equipped with items to aid in the safety of motorists and to keep traffic flowing smoothly.   

Hoosier Helper Vehicles

Like a good Boy Scout, Hoosier Helper vehicles are ready with the necessary tools on board to help motorists in need.  Those items include:

  • Arrow boards for temporary lane restrictions (when a lane needs to be temporarily closed due to a crash, etc.)
  • Traffic cones
  • Hand tools for minor repairs
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Broom and shovel for any necessary clean-up
  • Gasoline and diesel fuel
  • Water
  • Containment equipment for hazardous waste of fuel spills
  • First-Aid and blood borne pathogen kits
  • 800 MHz digital radios for statewide communication with Traffic Management Centers and local law enforcement
  • Cell phone
  • GPS (Global Positioning System) location devices
  Hoosier Helpers cover a total of 157 miles in Central Indiana, Northwest Indiana and Southern Indiana.                                                                                                 

Hoosier Helpers Areas of Service

Central Indiana (Indianapolis metropolitan area, covering 95 miles)

  • I-465 (entire loop)
  • I-65 from Southport Road to 71st Street
  • I-70 from I-465 on the west side to Post Road on the east side
  • I-69 from I-465 to 96th Street

Northwest Indiana (near Gary, covering 34 miles)

  • I-65 from U.S. 231 to U.S. 12/20
  • I-80/94 (Borman Expressway) from the Illinois State Line to I-90
  • I-94 from I-90 to S.R. 249

Southern Indiana (near Louisville, covering 28 miles)

  • I-64 from S.R. 62/64 to the Sherman Minton Bridge over the Ohio River
  • I-65 from the Kennedy Bridge over the Ohio River to Memphis Road
  • I-265 from I-64 to I-65

Our Mission
  • Keep the interstate system safe and efficient for the motoring public by reducing or removing traffic restrictions.
  • Provide traffic control and medical assistance at crash scenes, medical emergencies and vehicle fires.
  • Provide motorist assistance such as fuel, tire changes, minor vehicle repairs, etc.