The Illinois Tollway is kicking off the New Year with a new look for its Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks. The new look introduces GEICO as the new, exclusive sponsor of the Tollway’s roadway assistance program for customers in need. 

“The Illinois Tollway is pleased to launch this partnership with GEICO that supports our vital roadside assistance service for customers on our roadways,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is always our highest priority, and we know that GEICO shares our commitment to providing rapid, effective assistance to drivers who need help while using our roads.”

The Illinois Tollway has a well-established track record of being prepared for extreme weather, earning it the distinction of being certified StormReady by the National Weather Service. 

“The Illinois Tollway is ready at any given moment to respond to any type of extreme weather to keep customers safe on our roadways,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is a top priority for the Tollway and we have developed comprehensive, proactive plans and procedures to anticipate, communicate and respond to hazardous weather conditions.”

When he decided to pursue Illinois Tollway contracts in hopes of expanding his two-person engineering firm, Charles Frangos thought it would help to get some guidance from a more established business already familiar with Tollway procedures and projects.

So in 2016, Frangos—a professional engineer and U.S. Navy veteran--enrolled his year-old firm, Orion Engineers, in the Tollway’s Partnering for Growth Program, which pairs small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses working as subcontractors with mentoring firms that have experience working with the Tollway.