Freeway Service Patrol (FSP)

Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol —
a free road service for the region's drivers — celebrates its 1 millionth assist

On Monday, March 24, 2003, the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) reached an important milestone in its history: It tallied the 1 millionth assist its drivers have made in the program's 10-plus years of roaming the Bay Area's freeways, looking for stranded motorists to help.

FSP driver FSP tow truck drivers patrol the region's most congested freeways during the busiest times of the day, quickly clearing accidents and other incidents — the cause of more than 50 percent of traffic congestion. They assist motorists in trouble, remove dangerous road debris, and otherwise help to make the region's freeways safer and less congested.

A swift response also reduces the chance of further accidents and bottlenecks caused by impatient drivers and gawkers. In addition, reducing stop-and-go traffic saves fuel and cuts air-polluting emissions.

The drivers, dressed in blue uniforms and riding in white trucks with the FSP logo on the side, look for stranded motorists and offer help by changing a flat tire, "jump starting" a dead battery, refilling a radiator or providing a gallon of fuel. If the automobile still won't start, it is towed off the freeway to the nearest California Highway Patrol-identified location. All of this is free of charge to the motorist. Tow truck drivers, certified by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans), are not allowed to accept tips.

Current Profile

A fleet of 84 trucks patrols some 450 miles of the Bay Area's freeways. Patrol routes are selected based on several factors, including a high rate of traffic and congestion, frequent accidents or stalls, and lack of shoulder space for disabled vehicles.

Organization

The Bay Area FSP is a joint project of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (MTC SAFE), the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The service is provided by private tow truck companies, selected through a competitive bid process, under contract to MTC SAFE. During the hours of operation, the vehicles and drivers are exclusively dedicated to patrolling their freeway beat. The program is intended to augment the MTC SAFE network of motorist-aid call boxes in the nine Bay Area counties.

Funding

The tow trucks are financed with federal, state and local moneys. Local funds come from the MTC SAFE, which is financed by a $1 annual vehicle registration fee in participating counties. The service costs approximately $5 million a year to operate. Another $2 million is invested in sophisticated communications equipment, including an automatic vehicle location system to enable the CHP and Caltrans to monitor the trucks' whereabouts and improve dispatching efficiency.

Hours

The FSP tow trucks operate primarily during morning and afternoon commute hours, generally from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend service is provided seasonally on Highway 17 between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and in some other locations on Sunday.

Equipment

The state-of-the-art FSP tow trucks are equipped for nearly any contingency. In addition to the standard auto repair and towing equipment, they carry 5 gallons of diesel fuel, 5 gallons of unleaded gasoline, and 5 gallons of water, as well as an external speaker and public address system.

Other Tow Services

The Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol program, whose first tow trucks began patrolling freeways in September 1992, is patterned after a similar program in Los Angeles that began in July 1991. In the Bay Area, Caltrans continues to provide tow truck service on most state-owned bridges, on some approaches to the bridges, and along some San Francisco freeways. Those trucks are orange with the Caltrans insignia on the trucks.

FSP