Why won't drivers listen to the escort....

A good driver should listen to their pilot cars. That's what they're here to do. Be the eyes on the things we can't see. Before that truck moves an inch the one signal everyone needs to agree on is stop.

Pilot cars dont run the show and most aren't worth a dang unfortunately. That's to be expected when some "escort company's" are paying pilots as little as 75 bucks a day.

The ones I run with most split what the truck makes with the owner. Out of their half of the rate, they buy fuel and that's it. They are #### good pilots.

If a pilot came over the radio and said "stop, your rubbing that pole" they have failed, and probably just cost everyone, including the driver their jobs. With what I haul the damage for clipping a pole starts at around 100k dollars. You should be creeping and possibly have a pilot on foot with a handheld if you're that close to something. You do have a handheld right?

 

This should be interesting

 

Yes the idea of a very good pilot would be usually to warn on coming traffic of the wide load and to prevent you from coming near any obstacles.

 

@Ruthless, do me a favor and tell her your pilot car story. It seems that she has already gotten on my bad side, so I will back out of this thread.

 

Why is it that pilot cars have such a hard time listening? When I tell her to stay behind me, and I'm in the right lane, she should be in the right lane. If she sees traffic merging on ahead, she can ask if I'd like to move over. But I shouldn't look to my left and see my pilot car blocking the left lane and holding everyone up. And when I tell her to get back behind me, she should definitely not tell me that she's holding that lane in case I need it, after I've already decided that I don't need it, and refuse to get back behind me.

That one won't be escorting me again, that's for sure.

 

There are many things I could say here...but mostly it is as the driver - I am responsible for the load and it’s safety.

I pay the pilot car bill and Expect to get the service I ordered. So when I come and meet with you prior to starting out to go over what we can expect during the days trip, it would be ideal if the pilot could listen and ask any questions.

I can’t count the number of times I have said “I run 55-60 and less when circumstances dictate” only to have the front car take off and end up a mile ahead of. Or mostly I have pilots for length, please know which side to protect when I am making a turn ...

And it does know good to tell me I don’t have clearance after I hit something. If you think I am not going to clear it we have a super tight corner - tell me before we can’t undo it.

I will listen to you as the pilot car but know when and what to tell - oh and be on time and not on half a tank of fuel or have no sign or radio or ..... yes all of those have happened to me while paying the bill.

 

Communication is key. Both ways.



If you, let's say, have a load routed a particular way, and halfway thru you come to a multi level bridge which you are routed on the bottom level because that's the only level that has a toll booth at the other end that will accommodate your size. And let's say the bottom level is closed for construction (this is 11:30pm on a single move, single date/time permit) and you take a chance going the upper level, which you've read all the other permits that you've gotten and mentally taken note that you're permitted about 1.5' wider than will fit.
And let's say you squeak it through the booth while your front escort is screaming at your back escort to TALK MOTHER####ER LET THE DRIVER KNOW WHATS HAPPENING WHY ARE YOU ####ING SILENT
while he stays silent.
And let's say after you made it thru the widest booth on that level the rear escort suddenly comes back to life to say "well I didn't think you were going to make it"

That's a lack of communication.
Those were not cheap escorts.
I appreciate professionalism.
Know your job, do your job, be a professional. You'll have my respect.

Show yourself to be an amateur: you will not have my respect.