Freeway Service Patrol

HELP IS ON THE WAY

We hope that your travel on Ventura County highways is as smooth as possible. However, if you should have a problem along portions of the U.S.-101 or CA-118 during rush hour, Freeway Service Patrol will come to your rescue. The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) is funded by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) in its role as the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE), with funding through the State of California (Caltrans). VCTC administers the program through a contract with a local tow company, which provides two roaming tow trucks on each highway segment (“beat”) to assist motorists with disabled vehicles, at no charge to the motorist.  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is also a partner in the program and provides driver training and daily oversight.

The program operates Monday through Friday, except certain holidays, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on these Ventura County highway segments (see map):

    • Beat 1: 10.5 miles along U.S.-101, from Ventura/Los Angeles County line to Camarillo Springs Rd.
    • Beat 2: 9.2 miles along U.S.-101, from Camarillo Springs Road to Rice Ave. and
    • Beat 3: 14.2 miles along CA-118, from CA-23 to Ventura/Los Angeles County line (Rocky Peak).

Look for specially marked FSP tow trucks that are white and blue and display the FSP logo.  FSP drivers are certified by the CHP and wear blue uniforms with yellow vests, have the FSP logos on their clothing and an identification name badge on their vest.  FSP services are provided at no cost to the motorist, and the types of services provided may include:

    • Changing flat tires
    • Jump starting vehicles with dead batteries
    • Refilling radiators and taping leaky hoses
    • Putting a gallon of fuel in gas tanks
    • Towing inoperable vehicles, at no charge, to a safe location off the freeway
    • Clearing vehicles damaged in collisions under CHP direction
    • Removing debris from traffic lanes under CHP direction

If FSP cannot get your car back up and running, FSP will tow your vehicle off of the freeway to a location approved by CHP. Although FSP will get you off the freeway to a safe location to wait for help, FSP cannot tow you to a private repair facility or to your home, nor can they recommend tow services or repair shops.

Download a brochure about the Ventura FSP program, or review Frequently Asked Questions about the program. Have you been assisted by FSP recently and would like to fill out a survey? You may do so by clicking on this link.

Contact Us:
If you have any questions regarding FSP, contact Andrew Kent, FSP Program Analyst, at:

Email: fsp@goventura.org
Telephone: 805.642.1591 X102
Address: 751 East Daily Drive, Suite 420, Camarillo, CA  93010

​If you need assistance and are a motorist outside of the FSP service area or hours of FSP service, please dial 911.  If  you are within the FSP service area and hours and you require assistance, call CHP Dispatch at 805.477.4174, who if appropriate, will dispatch FSP to assist.

FSP Customer Assist Survey

If you have been assisted by the FSP program in Ventura County, we invite you to take the Customer Assist Survey to let us know about your experience. Your input is valuable for the ongoing development of the FSP service and we want to hear about how we can improve the program. Please have your survey number handy. You can find it on the card provided by your FSP driver. We thank you for taking the time to answer this short survey.

FSP Highway Segments “Beats”

Freeway Service Patrol Frequently Asked Questions

Where and when do the FSP tow trucks operate?
FSP vehicles are in the field during the weekday peak commute periods on three highway segments: A 10.5 mile stretch of U.S.-101 from the Ventura/Los Angeles County line to Camarillo Springs Rd, 9.2 miles along U.S.-101, from Camarillo Springs Road to Rice Ave in Camarillo; and 14.2 miles along CA-118, from CA-23 to the Ventura/Los Angeles County line (Rocky Peak) (see map). The service is provided Monday through Friday during peak commute hours, except certain holidays, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Is there any cost to the motorist for the FSP service?
No. FSP services are free of charge and in fact, drivers may not accept any form of payment, gifts or tips.

How is the FSP funded?
Funding for FSP comes from two sources: the State of California (Caltrans) provides funding for 75% percent of FSP program costs with the remaining 25% funded through local matching funds from VCTC, through a $1.00 annual fee charged to motorists who register a vehicle in Ventura County.  Fees are deposited in VCTC’s Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) account which are expended on motorist aid purposes per State law.

How can I recognize the Freeway Service Patrol?
All of the Freeway Service Patrol vehicles are white and blue and have the FSP log on the cab doors.  Drivers wear blue uniforms with yellow safety vests with the same FSP logo on them.

Can I pay or tip the driver?
No. Drivers are prohibited from accepting any form of payment, gifts or tips.

Where can I provide feedback about my FSP experience?
When your FSP driver assisted you, you received an FSP brochure along with a card that has a website where you may go and respond to questions about your assist and the driver.  VCTC appreciates all motorists who are able to take the time to complete the online survey, and that survey may be accessed by visiting this link. However, if you do not have the survey card, or, should you have additional information you would like to share about your FSP assist, please contact VCTC by emailing: fsp@goventura.org or, mail your correspondence to: Ventura FSP, 751 East Daily Drive, Suite 420, Camarillo, CA 93010.

How does the Freeway Service Patrol help congestion?
The FSP program reduces freeway congestion by quickly clearing stalled vehicles and other obstructions.  For each minute a stalled vehicle is in a lane, it takes four minutes for traffic to return to the original flow condition. In addition, for every minute a stalled vehicle is on the freeway, the possibility of secondary accidents increases, which may lead to even more injuries, property damage and resulting congestion.

How does the FSP program improve air quality?
By removing traffic obstructions quickly, the FSP program reduces the amount of time a vehicle idles in traffic producing exhaust.  In turn, this reduces the amount of pollutants being put in the air.

Why can’t FSP tow me to my mechanic or a garage?
FSP drivers are only authorized to assist a motorist by repairing the disabled vehicle or towing the disabled vehicle to a designated drop area. All designated drop areas are located just off the freeway. The FSP drivers are not authorized to tow vehicles to any other location.  Once a disabled vehicle is towed by FSP to a nearby drop location, the driver of the disabled vehicle must make their own arrangements to have their vehicle towed from the drop area to a repair garage or another location.

Why can’t I get towed home or to work?
The primary purpose of the FSP is to get motorists and vehicles out of harm’s way.  The FSP tow truck drivers need to resume service on the freeway as quickly as possible in order to continue assisting other stranded motorists.