Yes, there is free roadside help in El Paso. TxDOT’s HERO program, short for Highway Emergency Response Operator, patrols I-10, Loop 375 and US 54 in El Paso County and helps stranded drivers at no cost during its posted hours. The catch is that HERO only reaches those three highways during its operating hours, and it isn’t a tow-to-your-shop service. If you’re off those routes, calling after hours, or need the car hauled to a mechanic, you’ll need a private tow operator.
Quick Tow EP is a referral service. We connect drivers with independent local tow operators. The driver hires and pays the operator directly, and the operator quotes the price. Quick Tow EP does no towing, roadside work or storage itself.
What TxDOT HERO is and where it runs
HERO launched in El Paso County on June 15, 2020. Crews patrol three highways and look for stranded motorists, with the goal of getting people moving and keeping traffic flowing. Here’s the exact coverage, per TxDOT’s El Paso HERO page:
- I-10, from Transmountain Road (mile marker 6) to Horizon Boulevard (mile marker 38). That stretch runs past the West Side and Transmountain, through Downtown, and out toward East El Paso, Horizon City and the Far East.
- Loop 375, from I-10 West to Paisano.
- US 54 (Patriot Freeway), from McCombs to Loop 375. That covers the Northeast and the stretch near Fort Bliss.
If your breakdown happens on Mesa Street, Montana Avenue, Alameda Avenue or a neighborhood street in the Lower Valley, Socorro or Canutillo, you’re outside HERO’s patrol area. Same goes for anything in New Mexico.
What HERO does for free
Per TxDOT, HERO crews provide these services at no cost:
- Changing a flat tire and adding air
- Bringing gas, diesel and water
- Jump-starting a battery
- Minor vehicle repairs
- Cell phone service
- Drinking water for stranded motorists
That list covers a lot of the common El Paso breakdowns. A dead battery in a parking lot near Downtown, a flat on I-10 in the heat, a car that ran out of gas on US 54 near Fort Bliss: those are HERO calls if you’re on the covered stretch during open hours.
One thing HERO is not described as doing: towing your car to a shop of your choice. TxDOT frames the program as helping stranded motorists and keeping traffic moving. So if the car can’t be fixed on the spot, plan on a private tow. That’s a different call.
HERO hours and the number to call
TxDOT lists these hours for El Paso HERO:
- Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with five trucks and one tow truck per shift
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with two trucks and one tow truck per shift
The number is 915-790-HERO (4376). In an emergency, call 911 first.
Those hours matter in El Paso. A breakdown at 10 p.m. on a Saturday or 4 a.m. before an early shift is outside HERO’s window, no matter where you are. During monsoon season, when storms roll through in the evening, or during a spring dust storm, the time you’re stuck may not line up with when HERO is out.
Step by step: what to do when you break down
- Get safe first. Pull as far off the travel lane as you can. Turn on your hazards.
- Call 911 if it’s an emergency. A crash, a car in a live lane, someone hurt, or a vehicle that’s a hazard to traffic. Do that before anything else.
- If you’re on I-10, Loop 375 or US 54 during HERO hours, call 915-790-HERO (4376). Tell them exactly where you are.
- Describe your location by mile marker or exit. “I-10 eastbound near mile marker 22” or “US 54 northbound just past McCombs” gets help to you faster than a street name they can’t see from the highway.
- If the car needs a tow, call a tow operator. HERO can get you going again in many cases, but a car that won’t run needs a truck.
A few practical tips. Photograph your location sign or mile marker before you call. Write down the cross street. If you’re in summer heat, get children and pets out of a stalled car safely and into shade if you can do it without walking into traffic.
The Move Over law applies while you wait
When HERO, a tow truck or any emergency vehicle is stopped with lights on, Texas law requires drivers to move over. Under Transportation Code Section 545.157, on a road with two or more lanes in your direction, you must vacate the lane closest to the stopped vehicle, or slow to 20 mph under the posted limit, or to 5 mph if the limit is under 25 mph. Fines run $500 to $1,250 under that section, $1,000 to $2,000 for a repeat within five years, and a Class A misdemeanor if someone is injured. The details are in the Texas Transportation Code.
If you’re the one broke down, this is why getting out on the side away from traffic and waiting behind a barrier when safe matters. Give the crew room to work.
When HERO is not the answer
HERO is a great fit for a lot of El Paso breakdowns, but it has real edges. You’re outside the program if:
- You’re off the three covered highways. A dead battery on Mesa Street, a flat in a Far East neighborhood, a car that quit in Socorro or San Elizario: none of that is on HERO’s routes.
- It’s outside HERO hours. Weeknights after 9 p.m., early mornings before 5 a.m., and weekend mornings before 9 a.m. are uncovered.
- The car needs a tow to a shop. HERO isn’t described as a tow-to-your-shop service. A car that won’t start, has a blown tire you can’t swap, or was in a crash needs a private operator.
- You’re in New Mexico. Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Chaparral and Anthony NM are outside this Texas program. Texas TDLR rules and Texas statutes do not govern a tow, storage or registration there. Call a New Mexico tow operator, and use the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (NMMVD) for New Mexico titles and registration.
When HERO can’t help, a private tow operator is the next call. That’s where a referral service fits. Quick Tow EP connects you with independent local operators who quote their own price and do the work. You can read more about roadside help without a membership or check what roadside plans cover in El Paso if you’re weighing options.
One more thing worth knowing: some drivers have towing and labor coverage on their auto policy. Per the Texas Department of Insurance, that coverage pays to tow a car that can’t be driven and pays for labor to change a flat or jump-start a battery. It has a dollar limit, and if the cost is higher you pay the difference. TDI also notes a company can refuse to renew that coverage after four towing and labor claims in 36 months. Check your policy before you assume you’re covered.
If you’re stuck in heat, wind or dust
El Paso weather creates its own breakdown scenarios. In summer heat, a stalled car gets dangerous fast, so get water and get out of the sun if you can do it safely. In a dust storm, National Weather Service guidance says to pull off the pavement as far as possible, stop, turn off your lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off the brake so your tail lights aren’t lit. If you can’t pull off, drive at a speed suited to visibility with lights on, sound the horn occasionally, use the painted center line as a guide, and look for a safe place to stop. Never stop on the traveled portion of the roadway. More on that in our post on what to do when a dust storm catches you.
Frequently asked questions
Is TxDOT HERO free in El Paso?
Yes. TxDOT lists the services HERO crews provide at no cost, including flat tire changes, fuel and water delivery, jump starts, minor repairs and cell phone service. There’s no membership and no fee described by TxDOT for the program.
What are HERO hours in El Paso?
TxDOT lists Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Outside those windows, HERO isn’t patrolling, so you’ll need another plan.
Does HERO tow my car?
TxDOT describes HERO as helping stranded motorists and keeping traffic moving. It isn’t described as a service that tows your car to a shop of your choice. If the car can’t be fixed on the spot, plan on calling a private tow operator.
What highways does HERO cover?
I-10 from Transmountain Road (mile marker 6) to Horizon Boulevard (mile marker 38), Loop 375 from I-10 West to Paisano, and US 54 from McCombs to Loop 375. Streets, neighborhood roads and New Mexico are outside the patrol area.
What number do I call for HERO?
Call 915-790-HERO (4376). In an emergency, call 911 first. Have your mile marker or nearest exit ready so the crew can find you.
What if HERO is closed?
Call a private tow operator or roadside provider. If you’re off the covered highways, outside HERO hours, or need a tow to a shop, a local operator is the right call. Quick Tow EP can connect you with one.
When to call for a tow
If your car won’t start, won’t roll safely, has damage from a crash, or needs to get to a shop, that’s a tow operator’s job, not a roadside fix. Off HERO’s highways or outside its hours, a private operator is your next call. Call (915) 320-5573 and Quick Tow EP will connect you with an independent local tow operator.