Actually, if  you’ve already done all that, you are putting the cart before the horse!  I mean to say that there are other things you need to consider before all the expense of equipping your vehicle.  After you read this, you may not want to get into this business.

This is NOT an easy life!  First of all, if you are the homebody type, you really need to think seriously about the pilot car industry.  There are some people who can stay at home and take short day runs or maybe one or two day runs, and make a decent living.  In my experience, those folks are in the minority.  On the other hand, if you like to travel, this might just be your special place.  Just don’t get the idea that this is a way to pay for a vacation.  If you want to earn a living, you must stay busy-always lining up a follow on load and then rushing to get there in time for the load to move.

If you want to make a good living, you’re gonna have to live like a truck driver-only without the sleeper.  Do the math:  let’s assume that your rate is $1.50 per mile.  Your actual out of pocket expenses (not counting vehicle payment, insurance, payment to yourself, etc.) is going to be about 40% of what you get paid.  In round numbers, that leaves you about $0.90/per mile in gross profit (that’s what you have left BEFORE you start paying your other expenses.  You’re gonna have to pay all those hidden expenses out of what is left.  That figure varies by person, based upon their credit rating, where they live, and lots of other variables.  You can figure that your cost per mile, counting all related expenses, to be in the range of $0.80-$0.90 per mile, leaving you with about $0.60 per mile as net profit.  So, you’ve got to decide how much net profit you want to make over a one year period.  If you want to earn $60,000 in net profit, then you are going to have to drive about 100 thousand miles a year.  That’s about what long haul truck drivers put in each year.  The point is that if you have a family at home that needs you nearby, this is not the business for you. 

If you are the kind of person who needs 8 hours of sleep, this is not the business for you.  Here’s why:  In most states, oversize loads can move from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.  In the summertime, that means the load can be moving for 15 hours per day.  If you have breakfast before the load and dinner afterwards, you only have about 7 hours of the day left and you haven’t even gotten to your motel room.  What happens if you travel all day and then get to an area where you have to move at night…the SAME night?  The winter hours are shorter, of course.

If you need to go “potty” every hour, or stop to get a fresh drink and a snack every couple of hours, this isn’t the life for you.  It is not uncommon for the load to stop only for refueling during the day.  Many drivers will consider your needs, but you cannot plan on it.  What’s more, if the load has to stop often, you will get a bad reputation and no one will want to hire you to escort their loads.  Most drivers are like us, they make their money by putting on the miles.  Every time that load has to stop, it is the equivalent of cutting about 45 minutes out of the day (about 45 miles), according to some truck drivers.

If you are a timid or courteous driver, or sensitive to other four wheel drivers cursing you or flashing one fingered signals at you, you should reconsider getting into this business.  That was the hardest thing for me to change about myself.  When I got started in this business, when my driver said he needed the left lane, I would wait until there was a gap in traffic.  Sometimes the driver couldn’t wait for that, so I had to learn to be an assertive driver and claim that left lane almost immediately.  If the load needs to weave through railroad crossarms, or traffic signals, sometimes the escort must put themselves into the oncoming traffic to provide a safe avenue for the load.  It is a frightening and dangerous experience and very stressful.  So, you need to consider all of these things before you choose to enter this career field.

Now, let’s talk about training.  I know some people who just flagged up and went forth and escorted and did a fine job.  They have been successful in this business for years.  Those people are the exception, not the rule.  I’ve never asked them, but I would venture to say that they would not advise doing what they did.  Your best bet is to find someone near you who already has been in this business several years and is willing to let you ride with them.  I have trained a couple of people, and I required them to travel about 1000 PAID miles with me.  For the first several hundred miles, they sat in the right seat and observed and listened.  When I felt they had the general concepts in mind, I put them in the driver’s seat and I observed and made recommendations and suggestions.  All of this training only qualified them to lead or chase a “normal” oversized load.  It did not qualify them to operate with a high pole, perform route surveys, or escort “superloads”.  Those things require many many more miles before I would recommend a new person take on one of those loads.  Just how long varies from person to person.  There are some people who never will qualify for anything more than lead/chase for the smaller oversize loads.  I know others who have been capable of running high pole, superloads, and route surveys after only about three months on the road.  Even truck drivers who want to get into this business need to have at least SOME training.  They do have the advantage of having that “road sense” that is so important in this business, but it is an entirely different thing to “intimidate” other four wheelers with a big truck or another four wheeler with lights and flags.  When I trained other people, we shared motel rooms and they paid for their own meals.  It varies from person to person, but I don’t personally know of anyone who has paid a trainee during this time.

If you plan to take long haul oversize loads, you will need to get some certifications.  There is a growing trend among the states to require “best practices guidelines” certification training.  Generally, that entails taking an 8 hour classroom course.  This is not something you can do online.  You actually must physically go to the classes.  Currently the states that require that certification are Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Florida, and Washington.  At present, only one state-Utah-has traveling classes.  You can check uspilotcar.com to see where they will be and when.  Costs of these classes vary.

Other states require certifications in their states.  For example, New York state has a certification that is good ONLY in that state and they will not accept other state’s certifications.  In that case, you must go to the state of New York physically to take the test.  The only other state that does that is Virginia.  They do accept out of state certifications, but if you live in Virginia, you will need to take their test in person.  A couple of years ago, the VA certification was the “standard” and you could have a local official (teacher, librarian, police chief) administer their test, but it’s not that way anymore.  Kansas requires superload certification.  If you have a CDL it is no problem.  Even if you don’t have a CDL, it is simple to do.  All  you have to do is take the Defensive Driving Course from the National Safety Council and send them proof.  You can take the course online and then fax your certificate to Kansas DOT.  Generally they will fax your superload certification back to you within hours.

New Mexico and Louisiana have so-called certification programs, but they really are vehicle inspection programs.  Nevada and Georgia require amber light permits before you can legally operate amber lights, strobes,  light bars and etc. in those states.  They are inexpensive-maybe $5.00 each.  Nevada just recently has begun allowing you to get your permits online.  As far as I know, you still have to use snail mail for Georgia.

In summary, the REALLY hard part is deciding if you can live up to the lifestyle that this career requires, and then you need to get some training!  Certifications also are an important component of your preparations for this business.

Oh, there ARE people who slap on a Wal Mart winky light, handwrite a sign and duct tape it to the door, and use a $39 CB radio and POOF! they are in business.  Those folks might make what they think is good money for a little while, but ultimately they wither on the vine.

I am not saying that you need tens of thousands of dollars to break into this business.  However, there ARE some basic expenses that you should plan to meet if you are serious about being in business for yourself.

Let’s assume that you have a serviceable vehicle that you can use for your business.  Whether it is a car, van, or pickup truck, you will have to spend at least $1000 to make it ready.  You will need at least one reliable amber colored light.  That is going to cost you about $150 for just one.  You might get good service from that Wal Mart winky light for a couple of weeks, but not much more than that.  You really should plan on having at least TWO lights.  Only a few states allow one light;  most require two rotating or strobe lights.  Some states, such as New York, require 47 inch light bars.  Those will cost you between $250 at $2100, depending on how fancy you want to be.  Generally, you can find light bars on sale on eBay, or at local government auctions when police departments swap out their older light bars for new styles.

Incidentally, one hidden cost in using lights is the demand on the alternator and/or the battery of your vehicle.  You should be prepared to replace your alternator more often than normal, or to install a heavy duty alternator.  Many folks simply carry a spare alternator with them.

You are going to need at least a good CB radio.  That $39 dollar radio might work well if you plan just to chase loads.  Their limited power output limits the distance you can be from the load, and THAT becomes a problem if you get too far out front of the load.  You’ll just have to experiment with it.  I have found serviceable radios at pawn shops, and sometimes at  yard sales.  I have bought radios through eBay, and through retailers.  Generally, you will spend around $130 for a new brand name CB radio…more if you want more features.  For example, my backup radio has the weather channels, along with a switch that allows me to jump from CH 19 to CH 9 to whatever channel I have dialed in.  Having the weather channels available allows you to keep up with what is going on around you or along your route of travel.  The channel switch is useful if you are on a load where the driver wants to be on something other than the standard road channel 19.  If you are on two lane roads out front, and on another channel, being able to switch to CH 19 with a quick flip of the channel allows you to warn oncoming big trucks about your load and then quickly go back to your escort channel.

You will need AT LEAST two OVERSIZE LOAD signs.  First, let’s talk about front and rear bumper signs.  Many people use the flexible, foldable signs that you can purchase at truck stops.  Here is a piece of advice:  stay away from the plastic signs!  They tend to sag and stretch, especially during hot weather.  I actually have seen signs droop enough to fall under the front wheels and get ripped from the vehicle.  Sometimes, the vehicle is damaged, depending upon how the signs were mounted.  It has been so long since I have used those, but I am thinking the price runs around $20.  If  you use metal or wood signs, plan to spend about $100, give or take a few dollars.  In addition,  you are going to need to figure out how to mount those signs.  Keep these factors in mind:  you want to keep open the opening to your grill and radiator; you want to leave your license plate visible; and you want to ensure that you do not cover your lights, including front headlights and turn signals, as well as brake lights and turn signals.

If  you operate in states that require overhead signs, don’t even THINK about using flexible signs.  I have seen some people attempt it, and it never seems to work.  Sooo…you are going to need to plan on some sort of mounting system.  If you have a pickup truck, you can purchase or build a “headache rack” on which to mount your signs.  If you drive a van or car, obviously you will need to find a mounting sytem on line or have someone build you one.  Either way, you are probably going to spend something in the range of $150 for the mounting system alone, plus the cost of the sign (again…about $100).  Most states which require overhead signs will not allow expanded metal signs out of concern that sunlight shining through them make the OVERSIZE LOAD invisible.  They will allow louvered signs, providing the louvers overlap enough that the sun cannot shine through to the other side.  Solid signs, even when angled, will cost you about 3 MPG when you use it.  Expanded metal signs drop your fuel economy about the same amount.  Louvered signs only drop it between 1 to 1.5 MPG.  That is a HUGE difference the more miles you drive.  Louvered signs will cost you about $300, if you can find them.

Then, there are the “little” things that you’ve got to have.  You will need at least three 18 inch high orange traffic cones.  You can get those at the Home Depot or Lowe’s, or online for about $16 to $18 apiece.  Truck stops have those cones, but most of the ones I have seen are 16 inches, not 18 inches.  You can purchase collapsible cones for about $120 per set.  I have written about those on this site before.

You will need at least two sets of traffic triangles.  Usually, they come three to a set.  They are available at Wal Mart, truck stops, and online for about $15 each.  Some states require three sets.  You will need a first aid kit.  In most states, even the most basic first aid kit is acceptable.  If you really want to be useful at an accident scene, you will want a more extensive kit.  The basic kits are available for around $6-7.  More useful kits will cost more than $20, or more than $100.  In addition, you will need at least ten pounds of fire extinguishers.  Most states will allow two five-pound fire extinguishers.  You can find them online, at hardware stores, truck stops, and safety equipment stores.  Plan on spending about $20 apiece for those.  (Speaking from personal experience, ten pounds of fire extinguishers don’t go very far on a fire…just a word of caution!)

Once you’ve got all of that together, you will need to get the right kind of insurance for your vehicle.  Above all, BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.  If you plan to operate only in your own state, you might be able to get along with basic liability coverage.  However, most states require a higher coverage.  Some states require up to $1 million commercial liability, and a few others require $1 million GENERAL LIABILTY insurance as well.  Those can cost you between $1600 to $2500 per year, depending upon a lot of factors.

Now…you’ve got to think about operating funds.  There are those people new to this business, and a few “seasoned” operators, who operate solely on payment at the end of the run basis.  In my experience, those are rare indeed.  Realistically, you should plan on waiting at least 30 days for your money.  If you operate through a broker, add another two weeks to that.  You probably need about $2000 in hand to be able to operate one month without any income.  That does NOT include your rent or mortgage payment and utilities.

There are lots of incidentals that will pop up unexpectedly that will cost you money.  For example, one critical expense will be the cost of certification.  In my next issue, I will discuss certification requirements and make suggestions for your training.

The rear escort brought a trainee today.  I think that is great!  I really think his new boss is doing the wise thing by actually training this young man before putting him in a truck and pushing him out in front of or behind a load.

This young man got a terrific education today.  He saw a broad range of the types of things that an escort needs to know.  We ran high pole on the interstates, through some urban environment, and on skinny two lane roads.  He got to see how blind even truck drivers can be.  On one two lane road, our wide and high load was crossing a skinny bridge.  I was in front with two sets of wig-wags running, plus my four ways, headlights and police style lightbar going…and I was 3/4′s of the way into the other lane and waving my hand at an oncoming truck driver who completely ignored me.  Self preservation being what it is, I got out of his way and warned our truck driver that this truck was NOT going to stop.  When the oncoming truck driver got over the hill and saw my load, he hit the brakes and went into the ditch.  The new trainee had a chance to learn that no matter what we do, even professional truck drivers ignore us at everyone’s peril.

He also had a chance to see some great teamwork.  The rear escort (a woman who also is a big truck driver) anticipated the driver’s every need, kept me informed about speed changes, talked the driver through tight turns…the entire gamut.  This one day was almost a complete training session.  Imagine what he’s going to learn tomorrow when we go through a densely populated metropolitan area such as Las Vegas tomorrow.