KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expanding roadside assistance services in East Tennessee with the launch of a new Rural Service Patrol (RSP).
The program is designed to extend TDOT’s long-running HELP incident response system into rural interstate corridors, providing faster assistance and improving safety in areas with fewer resources.
The East Tennessee rollout includes:
- 40 dedicated patrol staff
- 25 fully equipped response trucks
- More than 1,300 weekly patrol hours
- 12 designated interstate routes across Region 1
Patrols are active daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with overnight on-call support for major incidents.
The Rural Service Patrol provides free roadside assistance, including:
- Fuel and water for stranded drivers
- Minor mechanical help
- First aid assistance
- Traffic and lane safety support
- Debris removal and hazard reporting
TDOT officials say the program will help reduce response times and prevent secondary crashes, especially in areas where help can take longer to arrive.
The Rural Service Patrol also works closely with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, local agencies, and TDOT’s Transportation Management Center to coordinate responses.
TDOT says the service will continue expanding statewide, with a goal of covering more than 870 miles of rural interstate by summer 2026.
