Pilots and Wrong way turns

That's a lot of hypotheticals, but I'm going to guess that the motorist doesn't have good enough insurance to cover the cost of the damage. So unless they have a big enough bank account to cut the check themselves, probably going to be the bulk cost covered by the pilot car/trucking company and their insurance regardless of who is technically at fault.

 

Legally they don't have that power.

 

To follow up they would be impeding the flow of traffic at least here.

 

They can't cross the center line here either, they can however get out of the pilot car with a hand held stop sign. Now some just go right on by but then they get that oh #### moment as you come around the corner. If the car that hits the others and forces you pilot into your truck, you and your pilot are idiots. You should never be that close.

 

^^^^^

Usually, the bigger trailers will require the wrongway turns. In a metro area, you may be required to have a sworn officer as the civilian escorts are just there for public safety.
NOW, as @cnsper alluded to, you will have pilot cars cross the center line and stick their hand held stop signs out the window. That can get you a ticket. The correct way is for the pilot car to turn around and come back towards you, stop and get out of the vehicle with hi vis vest and hand held stop sign. It works the same as the guys with the stop signs working 2 way traffic on a 1 lane road.

Now, I'm not saying never do the centerline thing. When going through areas with skinny bridges (like US64 in Arkansas), I've had pilot cars ride the center with their stop paddles out the window. It works, and its fast. But if doing a wrongway, and there's quite a bit of traffic, do it the correct way. Don't assume that your pilot car knows how to block for a wrong way, because most wont or they're too lazy. Tell them how you want it done.

 

BTW, there is a difference between riding the centerline and crossing the center.

 

There is a difference in traffic control and controlling traffic. If they get ahead of you, turn around and stop blocking oncoming traffic, that is controlling traffic. Each state will vary on what is allowed. As for certification, I believe that you can get certified in Utah and all states except NY will recognize that.