Help with wide load!!

Yep

 

Probably Bangor, ME to Long Island........"Well, It sounded like a good rate."

 

"I got double my regular rate!"

Then they find out it costs 2x as much and takes 3 times as long

 

There are people on this site I wouldn't trust with a restaurant recommendation.

 

MOST IMPORTANT "DON'T TRUST ALL THE ADVICE YOU GET HERE.
Maryland does not require police escorts till 16 wide.
No where in MD rules does it mention you need blinky lights. Don't get in a hurry to buy lights as you may not need them, If you go to GA or NV you need a blinky lite permit.
Most states don't require 2 escorts till you get over 14 wide, unless long or you need a pole car.
Permit services aren't that expensive, and you would waste a day or two getting accounts set up, besides the boss is paying.
DOT aren't that bad, I will be going from OK to NY next week and will probably only have permits checked in TN and maybe VA.

I don't claim to know all the rules but I hauled my first oversize in 1976.

One piece of advice that everyone will agree on is you can't trust escorts to know what they are doing. Some are not as smart enough to find their way home, let alone guide you. I have sent many home before we started and fired many before we finished the trip.

 

Best advice yet, man. You tried, and you had your OWN life in your hands, so it's not like you intentionally jacked s@#t up. You'll know for next time, and I commend you for coming HERE for advice. Works or not, only you can sift that, but hell, that's what this is here for. KUDOS to O.M. and the others who didn't bash.
Stay safe, driver.

 

Noone "bashed" anyone. SImply put: if you don't pick at it; it'll heal up. I swear some of your mamas never taught you that.

 

@Old Man, excellent post. In OSOW, the DOT are actually pretty good folks provided you the driver did your homework.

Arizona DOT: Do you know what the speed limit is?
Six: yessir. 55mph

Lousiana DOT: Do you know what time sunset is?
Six: Yessir! Sunset is at 1723. I will be crossing the state line at 1715.

Some DOT person may ask a question to see if you, the driver, did your homework, but unless you are an obvious screwup, they're not going to bother you.


I've done many a post about pilot cars because this is an area where I see the newer OSOW drivers mess up. Pilot car shows up, nice pickup truck, nice light bar, bragging about how many years he's done, or how big the loads he's escorted...

...and the new driver puts complete trust in him.

The state has you get off the highway and take a goat path, but the pilot car with all of his experience, will continue on the highway. Suddenly, you're stuck in a construction zone. The pilot car isn't in trouble. YOU HOWEVER ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE....your mama calls you because you're on both CNN and Fox News, and she's the only one that still loves you.

Guys, I've seen it a thousand times. I can't emphasize it enough. Messing up in OSOW is a fast way to end your career. Except for a hazmat violation, I have never seen bigger fines than the OSOW.

Understand this: there are people driving escort vehicles that couldn't make the grade at CREngland. You wouldn't trust your life and career to a England driver, why on earth would you trust an England reject?

 

Good post Triple. You gotta let them know who is in charge(not in an arrogant way)