New in town “starting pilot car business”

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by Jwpilotcar, Feb 4, 2020.

  1. Jwpilotcar

    Jwpilotcar Bobtail Member

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    Feb 4, 2020
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    So I am new to this forum and want to say thank you for allowing me to join.

    Also I recently took the jump and started driving a pilot car for an established pilot car escort service. I come from mixed background in career fire/ems and entrepreneur. Due to a fire/ems careeer ending injury I have went full time into entrepreneurship. While working as pilot car escort for established service. I have found that while the money is decent. There is tons of potential in larger profits if I start my own pilot car service. Does anyone have suggestions of getting new business. I have several heavy haul owner operators who I work for directly and can bring with me if I start running my own car. But other than getting on with acme, landstar ETC ETC ETC as approved escort. Is there any other tips for securing more loads? I have watched as the owner I work for who owns several pilot cars has made well over 300k a year. I made over 40k driving for them as non owner operator. So my goal which I think is attainable is bringing in at least 100k my first year as owner operator running own pilot car.

    FYI I know that there are lots of pilot cars but there is only a select group that are true professionals with pride in there vehicles and the service they provide. I am not going to be running a car held together by duck tape or god forbid running a high pole on the rear of the car I.e. major pet peave. There is money to be made in the escort industry but as with any business it requires hard work and dedication. I appreciate any and all feedback including any Crap talking.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2020
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    You want a sizeable truck. Like a Dually. Maybe a 3500 or something. You are going to occasionally position that thing against idiot public car drivers who wish to ignore that massive load following you. You will have some "Presence" way better than say a little dodge egg plastered with stickers and poles.
     
  4. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    Sounds to me like you're off to a good start. I used to haul oversize with pilot cars all the time, the thing I liked the most is when the pilot car driver asked me how much i wanted him to talk. Some warn you about every little detail and others about let you get in a bind before they say anything. If you can get a feel for how a driver likes you to be, he will use you as often as possible.

    I had one guy I liked to use who hardly said a word, but when I got to a bridge it was clear. If it was a tight turn at a crossroads, the traffic was stopped a good ways back out of my way for the turn.

    He didn't bother to warn me about the 18 wheeler coming that I had seen a mile up the road, he just chased the guy over to the shoulder.

    I used an older guy once who didn't want to help me back in at the destination on a narrow two lane road. His response was I got you here, give me my check. I told my boss under no circumstance would I run with him again.
     
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  5. Jwpilotcar

    Jwpilotcar Bobtail Member

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    Feb 4, 2020
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    while I understand your thoughts behind scene presence especially since I came from public safety. I have found that if I outfit mid size cars with proper lighting I can have similar effect of mid size squad car. Also financially I make WAY more money per run due to higher fuel efficiency. But I am looking to put a SUV into service as dedicated high pole vehicle.
     
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  6. ThatMurphy

    ThatMurphy Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2018
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    jwpilot car, what kind of light bar did you go with? if you dont mind me asking
     
  7. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    I agree. Lots of lights works well. A small car with plenty of lighting works better than a mobile home moving pilot car that is a Dodge 3500 dually pulling a trailer with a single faded out strobe randomly blinking.
     
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