Pilot Car Resources

Superhauler · Jan 16, 2015

TripleSix said: ↑

Had a front car step out on a jobsite with shorts and flip flops while I was talking to the riggers. He had just gotten there. I got reamed out. Me! Their safety people called the company and the company called me.
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deniability is the word. I would of denied until the cows came home he wasn't my pilot car!LOL

Old Man · Jan 19, 2015

This is what your looking for, but like everyone said they ain't no good their fired, I don't care how far they deadheaded to meet me.

http://www.pilotcarmanager.com/

Betonche · Jan 24, 2017

TripleSix said: ↑

Every heavy haul company has a list of pilot cars it uses. Every seasoned heavy hauler has his list of pilot cars he prefers. Got a new pilot car that's just starting? Is he trained? Uhoh...

Hit the big companies first Keen, Daily, Landstar, Lonestar, ATS, American Transport, Intergrated, Palletized...etc, and get signed up with them. You can move around between companies and drivers, but your goal is to stay busy with minimal deadhead.

When starting out new, you'd better tell the driver before you start heading out that you are new. Some drivers will not work with a new pilot car. Seems that quite a few people think that they can put a light bar and hang some flags and banners on their grocery getter and suddenly, they're ready to escort a superload. It's not as easy as it looks. We are working, we are not on vacation. Ready to work?

Every successful driver I know of is up at 0500. Want to be a successful pilot car? Be up when your driver is up. Why? I top my tanks off every morning. I get breakfast. I check the truck, I check the load, I take the browns to the Super Bowl. I am going over the route for the day. Want to piss your driver off? Here's how you do that: BE LATE. What does it mean to be late? If I tell you that I am rolling out at 0730, that means I am putting my truck in gear at 7:29:55AM. If for some reason, you are not ready to go,(you need to fuel up, you need coffee, you need to go to the restroom, you have to flag up...whatever) you're late.

Be ready to learn. Every driver is different. Every load is different. There's no one size fits all way to escort a load. You don't do the same calls for a 16 wide that you would a 16 tall. If you're out front, stay out front.if I catch up to you, you were vacationing and not paying attention. We need you to pay attention. If I tell you to block traffic so I can make a turn, pull your car down far enough that I can make the turn, keep your car in our lane, but get out with your safety vest and stop sign and stop traffic. Do not drive your car into oncoming traffic...that can get both of us tickets. If need be, drive down a ways, flip around and stop traffic. If you are afraid of the people in the cars, this is not the job for you.
if you are in the rear, watch for my turn signals. As soon as you see them, block the open lane ASAP. If you hear the front car call something on the shoulder, jump out and block traffic. If you can't do your job and be on the phone, turn your phone off. If we are running along, and I am keeping the load in the right lane, DO NOT needlessly block the left lane. The cops WILL pull us and write tickets and or void our permit.

Big loads require patience. If I am sitting in the truck waiting to load, don't come over asking about when are we going to load. I don't know. If I am securing or tarping the load, don't ask me anything about the load. Unless it's you offering to go on a burger run, don't say anything.

Anyways, good luck on the pilot car business. Good pilot cars are worth their weight in gold. Make a good name for yourself, and you will continue to work while everyone else starves. Show up late, go home early. Avoid the temptation to be a dime dropper.
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What a great post! thank you!

coyoteone · Feb 17, 2020

catalinaflyer said: ↑

I've rehashed all this on this forum before but I'll give it a go again, well because I'm sitting here waiting to load a super-load that was supposed to load yesterday but now they say tomorrow and I'm bored.

I have a list of MY pilot cars, then there's the list of the company approved pilot cars. When all else fails I'll call a broker.

I don't ask a lot of my pilots but what I do ask is not up for negotiation. If I say we're leaving at 6:30 that means we're leaving at 6:30 not starting to get ready to go at 6:30. And that goes for other trucks I'm running with, I will leave them in the parking lot and have just last trip.

I have no problem what so ever giving a new pilot a shot, we all started somewhere be it driving a truck or running a pilot car. I got a chance many years ago, a company gave me a shot so I'm in no position to snub new people looking to get into the business. I will watch you like a hawk and probably won't ask you to escort me on a one of our very high profile, high dollar loads to start off.

Knock on doors, do a lot of Google searches, call carriers and get your name out there as being available.

When you get that first call, show up early, have your vehicle in tip top condition and I don't mean you need a new vehicle but a trip through the car wash and clean windows says a lot. Get real signs made, make sure you have the equipment required, know as much as you can (every mile of every trip will be a learning experience but study up before hand) and make sure you take personal hygiene seriously. Tell your driver up front that your new and listen to what he/she has to say and I mean listen, don't go on about how much you know.

Visiting about what Aunt Thelma did for Thanksgiving is for after work not on the CB while going down the road. A missed call from the other pilot could cost someone their life and you don't want to be the reason for that.

Personally I'll fire a pilot quicker than anything for showing up late. I get paid by the mile as do you, there's a limited amount of daylight to get done what we need to do today and I don't arbitrarily pick a start time just to be an arse, I pick it based on curfews, daylight restrictions etc.

The next thing I don't tolerate is forgetting to get gas in the morning. Ask any of my pilots, I will stop if one of them needs to stop, whether it's because they need to go to the bathroom, get a coffee etc. However don't show up first thing in the morning with a keg size cup of Mountain Dew and need to stop 25 miles down the road. We'll stop but it's unprofessional and likely won't get a call back for another load.

Another pet peeve of mine, don't go out drinking knowing we have to leave in the morning. I have nothing against drinking and I have been known to sip a Bourbon neat while at home but I don't drink on the job and neither will my pilots. Show up stinking of booze sweat and you'll be done right then and there.

And finally, take personal hygiene seriously. We all move things that get a lot of attention and regardless of the name on you pilot vehicle you reflect directly on the name on the truck.

Now, be prepared for the driver from hell, the one who breaks all the rules they set for you. There are as many horror stories about drivers as there are pilots so just be prepared. I'm kind of laid back as long as we are getting our job done but jeopardize my load and your jeopardizing my job which affects my family and I will instantly turn into the driver from hell. I have one shot to get this right and I'm going to make sure my team and I are on the same play and going to get it right.
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A

coyoteone · Feb 17, 2020

Agree with all expectations. But on the other side what about driver that isn t on time, then still hasn t fueled up or aired up or done pre trip, hasn t gone to get his breakfast yet. Don t tell what time to be there and when you text to find out wants you there in less than an hour at wee hours of am.

REO6205 · Feb 17, 2020

coyoteone said: ↑

Agree with all expectations. But on the other side what about driver that isn t on time, then still hasn t fueled up or aired up or done pre trip, hasn t gone to get his breakfast yet. Don t tell what time to be there and when you text to find out wants you there in less than an hour at wee hours of am.
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That's easy. If he's that bad, don't work for him.

spyder7723 · Feb 17, 2020

REO6205 said: ↑

That's easy. If he's that bad, don't work for him.
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Exactly. As rare as good pilot cars are, there is no reason to deal with a bad driver.

2old · Jun 9, 2021

TripleSix said: ↑

Seems that quite a few people think that they can put a light bar and hang some flags and banners on their grocery getter and suddenly, they're ready to escort a superload
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I laughed when I read that and it seems to be absolutely true.

I'm still driving a gasoline tanker at the ripe old age of 70. Just shy of 30 years now. I know at some point that I'm gonna give it up and a pilot car is in my future but I'm still wrestling with what kind of rig (full size van or pickup) to put on the road but probably the van would suite me best.

Does it make much difference to you guys if someone shows up in full size vehicle as opposed to a small car?

REO6205 · Jun 9, 2021

2old said: ↑

I laughed when I read that and it seems to be absolutely true.

I'm still driving a gasoline tanker at the ripe old age of 70. Just shy of 30 years now. I know at some point that I'm gonna give it up and a pilot car is in my future but I'm still wrestling with what kind of rig (full size van or pickup) to put on the road but probably the van would suite me best.

Does it make much difference to you guys if someone shows up in full size vehicle as opposed to a small car?
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We always used full sized pickups. They just have more "presence" and people tend to take them seriously. Plus, sometimes you can make yourself useful by hauling tools, dunnage, ramps, spare tires, or whatever else needs to go. If there's a breakdown and somebody has to go to town for parts a full sized pickup is handy.

TripleSix · Jun 9, 2021

REO6205 said: ↑

We always used full sized pickups. They just have more "presence" and people tend to take them seriously. Plus, sometimes you can make yourself useful by hauling tools, dunnage, ramps, spare tires, or whatever else needs to go. If there's a breakdown and somebody has to go to town for parts a full sized pickup is handy.
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Plus, some of the jobs will be so far out in the middle of nowhere that you have to “live in” your pilot vehicle. And that’s besides the gear that you need to carry to do your job. Sprinter vans are very popular for this.

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