I hope this information can guide you to becoming a pilot car driver. And remember we are in a high tech world now so getting your name out there on the internet is very important. Trucking companies mostly use there computers now and not the directories that they used in the past.
Most important information to know:
Department of Transportation Information
o Address
o Phone Number
o Hours of Operation
Permit Limitations
Truck
Sign and Flag Requirements
Escort and Escort Vehicle Requirements
Legal
Travel Times
Sunrise/Sunset Schedule
Questions you need to ask yourself:
How
long are you willing to stay out on the road?
Do
you want to run high pole?
Do
you have enough money to get by with until you get your first checks? (Realize
it might be 30-45 days before you get paid on a load)
Do
you have a suitable vehicle?
The vehicle you have now may work just fine. Make sure it is sound enough for long hauls and is comfortable. If you want to buy a new vehicle buy the best you can afford. You want to make sure you are equipped with a heavy-duty battery and alternator, extra transmission cooling, and high quality tires.
After asking yourself these questions and you still want to do this, I would call some other Pilot Cars and Escorts in your area and the areas you plan on running in. Ask these people specific questions to get a better feel of the business.
The bare minimum equipment required for your vehicle would be:
Insurance
Fire
Extinguisher
Light
Bar
Oversize Load Signs
Signs
to Identify Your Company
Flags
CB
Radio and Antenna
Tools
o Flat Screw Driver
o Phillips Screw Driver
o Pliers
o 25 foot Retractable Tape Measure
o Flashlight and Batteries
o Hammer
Current Atlas
High
Pole (if you want to do high pole)
When you are starting out make
sure your vehicle is outfitted with the equipment required of your home state
and the states you plan on running in. You can always add additional equipment
later when you build up your working capitol. When you are ready to buy
additional equipment check out every state you want to run in, because some
states are very specific about their requirements.
Additional items that would be good to have:
Maps
o Truck Atlas
o Tourist Atlas
o State (Most state Welcome Centers have free, detailed state maps.)
o City
o Bridge Clearance
o Gazetteers showing county roads
o Industrial Parks
Truck
Stop Books or Exit Guides
o Various (chain specific) directories available from individual truck stop chains
Communication Equipment:
o Computer and email address
o Cell Phone
o Toll free number if you can afford it not necessary
o Office Phone
o Pager Voice mail of some kind
o Fax machine helpful
Office Supplies
o Business Cards
o Invoices
o Bookkeeping system
Contacts to have:
Bookkeeper or Accountant
Electrician
Fabricator
Computer Technician
Spending a little money in these areas to get it done right the first time is priceless.
If you contact other pilot cars in your area, sometimes they will take you under their wings and let you run with them. This can help you understand and get a better feel for the job. You might even learn some pointers and business contact information.
In this day and technical age you want to be on the Internet:
Get
an e-mail address
(which pilotcars.com can
give you)
Get
listed in the various business directories.
Get a
web page
(which pilotcars.com can create for you)
Get
listed on the search engines.
Get
into an online group catered to the pilot car industry
(PILOT
CARS UNLIMITED)