How do you become a Pilot/Escort vehicle for oversized loads?

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by david., Oct 29, 2013.

  1. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    Thank you Razororange for your response. You've given me a lot to chew on. I thought your comments on gas mileage and extra fuel tanks were very helpful. I hadn't considered the advantage of being able to carry more fuel to go farther. Makes a lot of sense!

    About those lights and signs? I hear you loud and bright!

    The full size (utility type) van has been growing in appeal to me. Mostly for the reasons you mentioned and I despise minivans. I know, they are great for some people, I owned one myself a long time ago but, full size is way more my kind of rig.

    On the subject of radios? I am a finicky nut about my equipment. NOT AN ECHO LOVER by any means, just good crisp audio suites me best. Two cb radios is a great idea! I've been hearing the west coast is using those VHF as well. I have a handheld and looking into a mobile mounted equivalent. Been around cb for a long time (to long) so my set up should be fine.

    Thanks again. I'll get back to you after chewing on your comments a little more.
     
    Razororange Thanks this.
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  3. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Those Sprinter van type vehicles. There are so many different configurations...the possibilities are endless.
     
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  4. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    I would like to thank Dustyroads38 for his post. It was on page 3 of this thread. Obviously that was some time ago but in reviewing the conversations that others have had, Dusty came out swinging and gave me a boost.

    He wrote: I had the privilege of being led from tx/ok border by a ladie that had been in the business for 20+ years. She was running a mid 90's ford explorer with close to 450k miles. She said that her and her husband (both escorts) had new 1500 dodges sitting in the driveway and was driving the Explorer for a few more months, and was then going to retire it. I completely disagree that they will never make more than a swift driver.

    In response: It is very encouraging to hear things like this. There have been some discouraging things posted by some people which seemed very sarcastic with respect to the earning potential of a pilot car operator. NOT TO ME THANKFULLY. I'm talking about comments to others.

    Dustyroads38 went on to say:
    It's like everything you chose to do in life, you get out of it what you put into it.

    In response: I have been very fortunate. The responses to my posts have ALL been very helpful and encouraging. That said, there is no doubt that the help I have received here, has implied the same sentiments as Dustyroad38 with regard to how I apply myself.

    I have seen operators that give the impression that they are NOT professional and unfortunately that seems to occur mostly with Mobil home escorts here in New England. That is not to say that all are non professional in appearance, but it seems the majority fall short of making a good visual impression both personally and with their equipment. ...........
    But that seems prevelant in just about any industry -- doesn't it?

    My point being that, I'm not here hoping for some magic formula in how to become a successful pilot car operator. I'm here to get info and answers on how I can improve my chances. I've always believed in the using the right tool to do the job right and earning the respect of others by being straight forward and working very hard. Making a good impression is critical for any employee and absolutely necessary for a self employed business person.

    So I want to thank all of you whom have helped me sort though some difficult questions. Your responses have given me a real head start on being successful in the pilot car business.
     
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  5. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    Here's what I've been doing. I practice what I might do or say if I was the lead pilot car. Today, I got the idea to take pictures of things that I might have to communicate to the hauler.

    Scenerio using photo below.
    Approaching a shoulder which is closed in a construction area. I called the left lane closed well ahead of time because there were construction signs to alert me, but didn't notice the shoulder barricades until I was much closer. Heavy traffic and I just didn't see it. There were no signs indicating the shoulder was closed in advance so I need to let the hauler know quickly that the shoulder is closed under the overpass and it reduces the lane restriction to a dangerous and very narrow width. Potential for real trouble.


    • What would the correct call be?
    • Is there a standard call for shoulder width ... example; 8 foot with guard rail?
    • Is there a list of calls that are common or standard, or does everyone just wing it?
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Landincoldfire

    Landincoldfire Heavy Load Member

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    My thought as the lead car. You are far enough ahead to givg warnings of last minute things. So you do the best you can. Most of us heavy haul drivers know construction areas arw fluid and can chamch without notice. Give us as much room as possible going into the site. If we don't need it, we can give it back.

    Yes, our guys call out how much room is on each shoulder. So like 5ft with a Jersey wall for example.
     
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  7. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    Thank you Landincoldfire. I constantly watch shoulder width. Sometimes it's a little tough to judge exact width but I figure that if a truck could park on it that it must be at least 8 foot wide. Of coarse there are all different widths and some with/without guard rails or barriers as you point out. Below is a picture of a 8 foot shoulder, with a construction sign placed in the middle of it. I see this a lot in the summer and they seem to be getting more and more prevelant. These must be a hassle for you to negotiate around. They can be spaced long distances apart such as warnings for mowing and alerts for flag man ahead. My question is; "When traveling long straight-aways with clear vision of the signs well in advance for the hauler, does the hauler want it called?"

    20180727_182712.jpg
     
  8. Landincoldfire

    Landincoldfire Heavy Load Member

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    Every driver is different and his/her needs will change with the load they're hauling. When a professional pilot car driver shows up for a job. They have this conversation with the above driver. My thought is always less is more. That way when a pilot is speaking, itsi important.
     
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  9. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    Thanks Landincoldfire. Good answer and just about what I thought it might be.

    You wrote: When a professional pilot car driver shows up for a job. They have this conversation with the above driver.

    I try to listen to escort vehicles whenever I can (provided I can find what channel they're on). I've heard some call out every car, even when in full view of the hauler. It just seemed pointless to me and couldn't figure out how the hauler could stand it. Like you said they each have their own needs.
     
  10. 2old

    2old Heavy Load Member

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    Chase car driver killed when a bolt fell off an oversize load.

    I was watching a Steve Shorty Owen video about the responsibilities of the chase car.

    1. Assist the hauler at changing lanes. Watch his signals and get in a position to block the lane so the hauler can change lanes.
    2. Watch the trailer and load when making tight turns. Let the hauler know when the first tire starts over a curb. (When the first tire starts up and when the last tire comes off). Example: ONE foot from the curb, first tire up.
    3. Watch the chains and binders for looseness. Watch for any signs of the load shifting.
    4. Watch for merging cars coming into the highway.
    5. Be ready to assist in any way that the hauler requests.
    6. Act as a "catch" if anything falls off the load. That's where chase car drivers get killed. ... yikes!!

    Is that true? Steve says he lost friends when it happened. He talks about putting chain link fence guards over the front of chase cars to deflect debris from coming through the windshield and killing chase car pilots. He also says that the chase car is the most dangerous position for a pilot car.

    I haven't seen any chase cars with chain link fence, so I guess this is not a normal situation? At least not here in New England.

    Is this normal, anywhere?
     
  11. soloflyr

    soloflyr Medium Load Member

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    @2old, on the scenario in your picture, the following is what I’d like to hear, even though chances are that I’ve already seen it.

    Losing lane 1 (if there is a sign warning of it, I want to hear it as soon as you see it, with approximate distance 1/4, 1/2 mile etc.), lanes 2 & 3 open, jersey wall on the fog at the bridge.

    Depending on whether I’m wide, I’d also expect the lead pilot to direct the chase car to hold it all for me, but if not I won’t hesitate to make that call myself.
     
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