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.

I sprayed the yard with pre-emergent weed killer, and by sunset, the weeds already were beginning to wilt.  I know I probably missed some, so I’m hoping to have a couple of days off so I can spray them again before they bloom out and produce those stickers.

Thursday, I’ve got a medical appointment at the VA in Big Spring, TX.  I am having laser surgery on my eyes.  It is nothing serious…just a preventive measure to prevent my retina from separating from the eyeball.  Without the laser surgery, I could go blind eventually.  Then I wouldn’t be able to see how good looking I am?

This is a new trailer for this driver.  Normally, he pulls trailers with hydraulic necks.  He forgot that this one didn’t have a hydraulic neck, so we dragged flat bottom right across the road at the intersection.  Fortunately, these two roads are not heavily traveled.  In the three hours we worked to free ourselves, we saw maybe six vehicles.  There is a gravel pulloff at that intersection, so traffic was able to get around us.  Finally, my friend and partner Dave Hibbard went into Del Rio to a hardware store and got some big timber.  With that, we were able to get backed up and approached the road from a different angle.  As bad as today was, tomorrow has GOT to be better!

Next up is the issue of how to get through NM.  We have about three options to get from El Paso to Cortez, CO.  The load actually is going to central California, by way of NM, CO, UT, NV and CA.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to complete this trip.  I have a medical appointment on Thursday in Big Spring, TX.  I will try to get them through the Albuquerque area, providing we can get through there on Tuesday…but I will have to break free after that. It is a shame.  This will wind up being about a 2800 mile trip…PLUS it is going to an area of California where I have never been before.  That’s life!  This is a medical appointment I’ve been waiting for about six weeks for.

We made it to Eldorado, TX.  There is one motel and it certainly is NOT the Fairmont!  We got in too late for the one known restaurant…so I had mystery meat (they called it chicken strips), and some milk.  Now, I’m heading for bed!  We leave at 6:30 AM.

I have decided that if we don’t see light at the end of the tunnel by noon tomorrow, I probably will start looking for other loads.  If this load had rolled on Wednesday like we expected, I could have completed it and then been back in Texas for a medical appointment late next week.  Even if we leave tomorrow, I will not be able to complete this run before I have to break loose and come back to Texas.

SNAFU–situation normal; all fouled up!