What it takes to be a pilot car driver

You’ve seen them: pickup trucks or cars driving in front of a tractor trailer pulling a very wide load. These are called pilot cars, and the people who drive them are professionals who specialize in that form of driving. You may have thought those cars and trucks were part of a team, but in fact, the driver of the pilot car is usually someone hired to carry cargo through a particular state. So what does it take to be a pilot? Read on and find out.

There is a certain amount of equipment that your vehicle will require. For example, you will need a fire extinguisher, a CB radio, flags, and a large cargo sign. It goes without saying that you need a highly reliable vehicle capable of handling long trips. Equipment requirements can vary from state to state, so it is important to have the equipment required by the states in which you work.

Assembling the equipment you need is the easy part. The hard part is living the lifestyle you need to be successful in the industry. The lifespan of a pilot car is very similar to that of a truck driver, requiring many hours of driving with limited interruptions. Like truck drivers, they get paid by the mile. So the more miles you can drive in a day, the more you can earn.

There is one area where these drivers are at a relative disadvantage relative to their fellow truck drivers – the driver of the pilot car has nowhere to sleep! When the day is over, a pilot car driver must find a hotel. This adds to your time on the road and is an additional expense to consider.

There is also a certain level of danger associated with driving a pilot car. There may be times when quick lane changes or other repositioning are required to accommodate the needs of the wide haul vehicle. Aggressive driving is sometimes required, so shyness is not a trait that leads to success in this field.

This type of driving is not something you should decide to do without training. Your best bet for getting into the field is to find an experienced driver who will allow you to ride and later perhaps even drive the vehicle yourself. The higher the load and the more difficult the situation, the higher the level of training that will be required to drive safely and effectively.

Driving a pilot car is not an easy life and definitely requires a high level of concentration and determination. But if what you love is driving and you are willing to lead a lifestyle similar to that of a trucker, then it is a profession that can be very satisfying.