This has happened to many of us - and if it hasn't to you - let's hope not. Your car breaks down - your stuck - not knowing what to do or whom to call. Well the Department of Transportation and Development wants to help out.

It’s the Motorist Assistance Patrol, or "M.A.P." program. It's a truck decked out with equipment to help with everything from flat tires, to putting some gas in your tank if you run out.

It will patrol on major roadways in Alexandria and Pineville, like I-49 and the Pineville Expressway from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Alexandria/Pineville area follows cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge who have had M.A.P. for several years. Right now, it's only funded for a year, after that they'll see if they want to continue the program.

"Every minute a care is stalled, that's four minutes of congestion,” said Joshua Hollins, D.O.T.D. “We want to make sure our roads have maximum capacity and traffic is flowing."

"It also enhances our people in law enforcement to be able to do their jobs more readily instead of being held up for long periods of time instead of being held up helping motorists on major roadways throughout our cities and throughout or regions," said Mayor Clarence Fields, Pineville.

M.A.P. is funded by D.O.T.D., the Rapides Area Planning Commission and State Farm.