Pilot wanted!!!

You know, it gets frustrating.

If I told you that I am heading south, and they have me routed around the east side of Cincinnati on the 475 loop, and I wanted you to meet me right at the Kentucky line, what exit would you wait for me at?

"Would that be north or south? Let me get my map. Which way would I take if I was coming from Lexington?"

 

And she was late. She blames it on some trucks that wouldn't let her over and she missed a turn. She got off on the local roads in Cincinnati and had to find a cop to tell her how to get back on the interstate.

she just called me on the CB. She was on the wrong side of 275. Bet she forgot to fuel up.

 

Guess what? She forgot to put her signs on. This day has all the drama of a really bad reality show. I feel like Jackie Gleason.

 

I show up GASed up. I show up at least 1 to 2 hours early. I CALLED TO CONFIRM MEETING PLACE, TRUCK STOP and or PORT. Bathroom BREAKS AND REFUELING IS WHEN CDL Driver STOPS! I AM A TRUCKER's Spouse! We work hard for our pennies! Also, I stay out four weeks at a time! My Pole Guy DOES the SAME!

 

I am a Pilot Escort...Professional too. I show up GASed up. I show up at least 1 to 2 hours early. I CALLED TO CONFIRM MEETING PLACE, TRUCK STOP and or PORT. Bathroom BREAKS AND REFUELING IS WHEN CDL Driver STOPS! I AM A TRUCKER's Spouse! We work hard for our pennies! Also, I stay out four weeks at a time!

 

Well I think you mean the I-275 loop that goes around Cincinnati, there is no 475 loop. And I sure wouldn't want you to take an exit ramp off that to meet up.Those interchanges are just plain screwy if you just want ot hop off and get right back on the highway. May I suggest I wait for you on the on ramp to 275 at exit 71.That would give us a mile before we cross the river to get situated. And from Lexington its a straight shot up I-75 to the 275-75 interchange when I would head east,.get off at exit 71 take a left go under the underpass and take another left to the onramp. What channel do you want to use to contact me when you're 1 mile away?

 

Your hired!

 

C N W Pilot car Services ready to roll, call 785 819 4374

 

I have been an OTR driver for the railroad for about 4 years now and I know the jobs don't compare at all but I was just wondering how I could find out more information about the requirements and schooling???

 

Requirements & schooling for being a pilot/escort?

There are some companies that will hire & train for it, be it a pilot car company or an OSOW company that has their own pilots. Most people either know someone that does that helps get them in, or they just jump into the field.

If you were to try it independently, really not much you have to do other than take a certification course, buy the required equipment & put yourself out there. Of course that guarantees neither, when it comes to being good or successful at it.

In reality, common sense, reliability & a good work ethic are the three qualities & traits a quality pilot possesses.

When it comes to required training, some states have none, some states have an easy cert class to take, NY has their own you must take in order to operate there.

Some states have lax equipment requirements, others are more stringent. You have to know all the different states requirements for the ones you want to work in.

You can take the Washington state cert course & work in any state besides NY. Utah has a cert course, a bit more stringent & a lot more expensive, doesn’t gain you anything over the Washington course.

uspilotcars.com has a list of all the states requirements on there site.

I am currently in the process of putting my son on the road as a pilot. Decided to take the cert course with him in case I decide to come out of the truck in the future, but also to make sure we are both on the same page with all the rules.

I put him in a 2013 F150 that another pilot had, really well maintained & rigged out with lights, flag holders & some other equipment. I’ve bought the additional required equipment, fire extinguisher, flags, banners, cones, triangles, flares, height measuring pole (for measuring the load, not the height pole that goes on the front bumper), safety vest, hi-vis clothing, hard hat, stop/slow paddles, etc.

All total, including the $400 ($200 each) for the cert course, I am somewhere around $14,000 invested in it.

All I’m waiting on now is insurance. There’s not a lot of insurance companies out there for the pilot car industry. Those that are, aren’t cheap. A million dollar general liability & a million dollar cargo is what most of the companies that hire pilots require in order to work for them. There are some that require lower levels of insurance, they are generally the companies I don’t want to pilot for, as their rates reflect what they really think about pilots.

A lot of drivers don’t like having to use pilots. I don’t mind, as long as they are quality pilots. You don’t always need a pilot, even though it may be required, but there’s lots of times it’s nice to have a good one to help you through some situations.