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

We carry tools, fire extinguishers (2 - 10lb.), high visibility clothing, first aid kits, etc., but do not have stop paddles. The guys that work for me all have CDL's, and insurance is commercial with $1,000,000/$2,000,000 aggregate liability.

I have never had Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming ask about it, but I should probably make sure that we are doing things correctly.

 

Every state is different as to what the pilot car needs. They are also going to need a certain number and size of cones. No certification needed in Montana as you probably already know.

We have our own pilot cars too but one day one of our drivers got a ticket because the idiot running the lead pilot was too lazy to put the oversized sign on the back of the truck. We call him BM or Bare Minimum. But it was the driver's fault for not making him put it on.

 

Virginia requires you take their own test to pilot.Some states require different flag setups on escort vehicle.Georgia and Nevada require Amber light permits but those only cost a couple bucks a year and Nevada and CA require you to cover the lights when not in use.FL requires you to pass a defensive driving course unless you hold a cdl.A Few other states have that reg as well.

 

California used to make you cover amber lights when you weren't using them, they haven't enforced that in at least 10 years. Nevada has never enforced covering them when not in use, but they definitely ask about the light permit.

 

Ok,good to know,I went to Randy Sorensen's Utah certification class last year and he said you had to cover the lamps or get a ticket.Hawkeye OS load and pilot car directory-2015-16 issue-still has the requirement to cover in CA.I would rather be safe than sorry.Never know what mood a trooper may be in.

 

Randy's never driven a pilot car, his wife got him that money making scam 10 years ago. I took his class, it was a total waste of time. Ask 100 pilot car drivers in California if they have ever seen someone get a ticket for it, I'll bet most don't even know its a law. We don't cover them on our trucks either.

 

Which was the money making scam?The pilot car biz,the cert.class,the pevoa,his pilot car listing biz,or the pilot car equip biz?
Another thing I wonder about is flags on the corners of pilot cars.a few states supposedly require them but I don't know anyone who puts them on.
His class sure took a long time,mine went from 8am till 10pm.At least I got the card.You're the first person I've come across that doesn't seem to have a good opinion of him though.

 

Did you actually LEARN ANYTHING? Most people do not. Having escorts "certified" does no good if its not regulated. I have a card from The Arizona Trucking Association, its a piece of paper with my name (misspelled) on it and laminated. It does not contain any information. If you have a pulse (and $200) you get a "certification". NOBODY has ever "failed" their test because Randy or whoever is doing the test wouldn't get their money if you fail. Its a scam. I see plenty of 80 year old deaf and blind women doing pilot car work, some of them shouldn't even have a drivers license, it would be nice if I could call a "certified" pilot car and know for a fact that they know what they are doing. Some of the best pilots i know are from California and have no certification at all.

 

Ugh...you have to be talking about Billy's out of Lordsburg, LOL!

 

Yea and also to my understanding he had some exclusive contracts with states that only his class service could be used A good friend of mine took the instructor class for WA . state so he could do the classes. He is a former h.h. guy then went to piloting lds
Took him awhile to get setup as Randy was trying to lock up all the cert. training for different states
Now it seems alot are in the class game now