Blog, Do you want to get into the Pilot Car Business, Featured
Do You REALLY Want To Be a PILOT CAR OPERATOR?
By MrBoyd • Jul 21st, 2008 • Category: Blog, Do you want to get into the Pilot Car Business, FeaturedQuite often, people considering our business post on the various groups, or call some of us, or email some of us, wanting to know about the pilot car business.
Of course they have all sorts of questions: can you make money at it? How much does it cost to get into it? What do I need to know? What certifications or permits do I need? What kind of equipment do I need to get?
Others far more experienced than I have written on these subjects, so I am in good company when I attempt to answer these questions from my own perspective. This is the first in a series of articles that I will be writing on the subject. I invite my colleagues to comment on these articles and to correct me when I am wrong. I also invite questions from the readers of this series.
The fundamental question that a “newbie” should consider is this: do you REALLY want to be a pilot car operator?
This is not an easy life, particularly for someone with a family. If I had family obligations, including a wife, children at home, ailing parents, etc., I doubt I would be IN this business. It is true that some people can make a good living in this business with relatively short runs, thus allowing one to maintain the semblance of a family life. Unfortunately, this is rare. It generally depends upon physical location. For example, if one lives near a state line where there are differing pilot car requirements. The best example I can think of for this is those people who live along the Oklahoma panhandle. The panhandle is only about 40 miles wide between Texas and Colorado or Kansas. Often, oversize loads need escorts just across the state of Oklahoma. Thus, people living in that area could easily stay busy just running short runs for a fixed rate, and make a good living, while being at home every night.
The challenges we face in this business are almost the same as the challenges that big rig (over-the-road) truck drivers. I believe that truck drivers probably have an easier time getting loads. There are load boards available, dispatchers, or trucking companies to whom drivers can lease. While there are some pilot car load boards, they are not nearly as sophisticated or as numerous as for the truck drivers.
There is wear and tear on your vehicle to consider. Even more important, do you have an extra vehicle that you can use for this business? Surely you do not want to leave your family without transportation while you are out on a run.
One should consider the financial aspects of being in business for one’s self. Of course there is a lot of freedom when you work for yourself. On the other hand, you miss the “bennies” of working for someone else. Foremost, especially if you have a family at home, is the availability of health insurance through an employer. Add to that the workers’ compensation insurance in the event you are injured on the job. In our business, I do not know of any independent pilot car services company that offers workers’ compensation. There may be some states in the New England area that require this, but that is the exception, rather than the rule. Working for someone else means there is an hourly wage or a salary that you can depend upon (providing you keep your job and your employer doesn’t sell out or shut down).
This business can be a “feast or famine” type of business. To a certain extent, it is seasonal. Obviously, more oversize loads (or OD loads) move during the warmer months of the year. In the southern tier of states, this is not such a problem, but if you live in the northern tier, it COULD be a problem if you want to stay in your immediate area. There are ways to avoid the seasonal aspect, or to prepare for it. It simply takes self discipline and/or planning.
That brings us to the critical issue of self discipline. You MUST be self disciplined in this business, like any independently owned business. Self discipline is important for a variety of reasons. You must be reliable, meaning that if you give your work to meet a load at a time and place, you must be there. You must exercise self discipline in the maintenance of your vehicle, your paperwork, your business relationships. If you are not a self starter and want to be in this business, work for someone else.
There are many issues that you need to consider before getting into this business. My next issue will deal with the financial aspects of owning your own pilot car services company.
MrBoyd is a professional pilot car/ vehicle escort driver licensed in the 48 contiguous states. He offers high pole service, professional demeanor, and is NUTS about your safety!!!
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thanks for the info..very helpful
i am a longhaul trucker for the past 24 yrs..last winter i was in a bad truck accident.wcb wants to retraine me for a new line of work i have a crushed left arm. and i would like to know what kind of certificates or courses you need to run a pilot car heavy/wide/high .thanks for youre time.
I have been remiss in checking out my site. I have been depressed about the errors which continue to exist and my inability to get them repaired.
Over the next days and weeks, I will continue to address your questions, particularly about certifications.
Trying to get started, got certified june 07, have exp in the army (retired july 95) trying to set up truck.
How do you get loads and who are the best people to call here in the central texas area (waco, tx.)
any comments? please send them.
I am not sure how much it varies from state to state but I was wondering what type of certificates you need to become a pilot driver. also is there any special class Drivers License needed? Also I am an injured worker recently recovered from a shoulder surgery. Is there any lifting limitations to this? Is there a site you recommend or a way to find hiring companies? Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
I used to be self employed in Utah and recently moved back to Texas, I still have the corporation and am planning, or have been asked by friends in Utah, to let them work under my Corp name, tax idea, and credentials. My plan is to “hire” them as contract employees. They have Driver and Flagger certifications from Utah through the new national plan, you know the guys that are trying to get all the states uniform and more organized. The cert’s are good everywhere but New York. Anyway, I have purchased a million dollars of business insurance and have got quotes to pay the employees insurance on their vehicles. I was plannin on getting 5% and paying them the other 95% of company or rather their individual job income. The 5 percent should with my figures pay for the insurance premium and I also offered to allow each driver a 1800.00 vehicle rig up allowance. After all I am just sitting around not actually doing the work so eventually with my 5% I will get paid back my initial investment, and still be able to pay insurance premiums for them. Does this seem like a feesable business venture? It is snowballing at the moment started with 2 people wanting to do it this way and it has grown to 6 now. They say they allready have contacts in Texas and Utah and Brokers to keep them as busy as they want to be. let me know what ya think.
I live in Binghamton NY area and would like to know how to best go about getting work. I am insured and NY certified.
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Hey, nice blog with good info. I really like coming back here often. There?s only one thing that annoys me and that is the misfunctioning of comment posting. I usually get to 500 error page, and have to do the post twice. – Don’t improve it into a flop! – Samuel Goldwyn 1882 – 1974
I really like the fresh perpective you did on the issue. Really was not expecting that when I started off studying. Your concepts were easy to understand that I wondered why I never looked at it before. Glad to know that there’s an individual out there that definitely understands what he’s discussing. Great job!
i have been an OTR driver for the past 10 years looking for a little change. getting burned out. have been thinking about Pilot. i know that i have seen and worked with a few escort companies that have quite a few cars and let others run under their authority but for the lief of me i cant remember any of those companies. i do remember that most of them were based in the south. was wondering if you knew of any that “leased” vehicles and drivers. thanks
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