Should You Start a Pilot Car Business?
We and other Pilot Car/Escort drivers are frequently asked by strangers in truck stops about how one gets started in this business. I think that it appears to outsiders that this is an easy way to make a lot of money and that we are just traveling around, seeing the country. Nothing could be further from the truth, because it is a very stressful job and if you’re looking at the scenery, you’re not doing your job. It is expensive to start up and expensive to keep going. I hope this will answer some of the questions you have about what we do, how to learn the job and how to properly set up a vehicle. Don’t make this decision until you have read this, talked to pilot car drivers who have been out there working for awhile and only if you have the resources, both financial and physical, to see it through. You need to be prepared for a tough first year or two.
First of all, you must understand what we do. Pilot car operators have the responsibility of getting an oversized load safely through traffic under all kinds of conditions, from heavy traffic, a public that doesn’t understand why you’re there, what we’re trying to do, who get angry and agressive when they’re slowed down. You also act as an extra set of eyes and ears for the truck driver and as a warning device to the general public. Each state requires 1 to 3 pilot cars for oversize loads, depending on the size of the load and the route, but the regulations are not the same from state to state, although much work is being done with the state Departments of Transportation to bring more uniformity to the regulations.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
First is to be visible.
That means your vehicle and the equipment needs to be set up in such a way as to easily seen by other motorists.
The second is to be knowledgeable
You will have to learn the regulations for over-dimensional load in the states you will be traveling in. The states vary widely in their requirements. For example: some require the pilot car to control traffic and some states forbid it. The pilot car is responsible for staying on route. Getting off route can result in fines of many thousands of dollars. I’ve heard of fines as high as $80,000.00. Excellent map reading skills are a part of the job. Just one wrong turn can be extremely costly. You have to understand how a tractor/trailer combination tracks, what part of the roadway it will take to turn, when it will encroach on opposing traffic lanes, when to stop traffic and when to let it go.
The third is to be aware
Know where everything is around you and pay attention to details. This includes all other vehicles, curves coming up, side traffic, road debris, dips and humps in the roadway, Rail Road crossings, pedestrians, mailboxes, road signs, bridges, guard rails and overhead obstructions. You will be constantly looking ahead, left and right and up, while analyzing what you see and how it affects the load behind you. Since oversized loads come in all shapes and sizes, anything in, on or near the road can have a bearing on successfully getting a load through safely.
The fourth is compliance
All states have regulations on your equipment, your competence and your insurance. These vary from state to state. You must learn or have easy access to each states regulations and be in compliance in each state that you escort in. Either you or your driver or both can be fined or shut down for not having everything you need before entering each state.
The fifth is good communication
You need good verbal skills when you communicate with the driver or other escort(s) on the load. You will have to communicate to them what you see in clear, easily understood language. You will let the driver know when it is safe to change lanes, cross a narrow bridge, go into a tunnel or if the curve is clear. You also need to let him know if there is something in his lane of travel, on the side of the road or if there is anything that he has to be aware of. You are his eyes. You have to be alert and aware of everything that is going on around you and further up the road. Read the road ahead of you. You have a lot of responsibility and very few places to receive any training.
On the next page we cover the Financial aspects of operating a Pilot Car Business…
Tags: occupations, Starting a business, What is a pilot car driver
June 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Great to see that all articles are now accessible. This is a site that is very well put together and a good resource for “newbies” , heck, it’s good for a lot of us “old timers” too. Thanks for the quick response to my whining…Pat
July 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Greetings;
Your article, “Should You Start a Pilot Car Business?” is great! I’ve been piloting since last year, (I guess that makes me not quite a newbie), and you cover most of the subject very well! IT shows a lot of wisdom and insight into the subject. I have a file - which I can upload to you - which gives additional information on the subject. You might also consider posting such info as some of the Yahoo groups on the subject, and trucking companies that require registratiojn like LAndstar, where to find certification, (RSA Network is recognized by most states and holds classes around the country), where to find the million dollar commercial insurance, (Progressive), some of the brokers that cover the nation, etc.
These are just some that come to mind that would be helpful for anyone who is contemplating or starting in the business.
Don’t get me wrong, I think its a great article, just dropping in a few things which may be helpful.
Thanks again, have a great day!
Ivy