What is a Pilot Car? Everything you need to know
Pilot cars guide and support large trucks carrying oversized loads.
Pilot cars can be sedans, SUVs, vans, or pickup trucks and require additional equipment such as lights, flags, and CB radios to communicate with the oversized vehicle.
The pilot car is not usually part of the trucking team. Instead, pilot vehicles are usually contracted to escort the trucker along a defined route.
Pilot cars are also commonly referred to as “escort vehicles,” “pilot vehicles,” or “guide cars.”
Why are pilot cars used?
Pilot cars are required in all fifty states for loads over a certain size or weight because oversized loads pose an increased risk to public safety. While there are federal regulations on the size of commercial vehicles, each state sets their own requirements on when a pilot vehicle is required.
Depending on the state and size of the load, more than one escort vehicle may be required. A police or highway patrol escort may also be required depending on the load and route.
What does a pilot car do?
Pilot cars help the truck hauling the oversized load navigate routes, traffic, and other road obstacles. Pilot vehicles are required because oversized vehicles:
- Require more time and distance to stop, change lanes, and pass vehicles
- Have more blind spots
- Have larger blind spots
- Can have difficulty accelerating and decelerating when merging with traffic
- May roll backwards when starting from a stop
- Are difficult to back up
Responsibilities of the pilot car operator can include:
- Surveying the route for potential issues
- Alerting the truck driver of upcoming traffic, turns, or road hazards/issues
- Alerting other drivers of the oversized vehicle
- Protecting passing lanes, turning lanes, and on/exit ramps
- Coordinating the movement of obstructions such as signs, wires, or signals
- Directing traffic when needed (though not while driving)
Lead Cars vs Chase Cars
Depending on the size of the load and route, oversized vehicles may require a lead car, a chase car, or both. As the name implies, a lead car drives in front of the oversized vehicle and the chase car drives behind.
Lead cars are primarily responsible for keeping the oversized load on the correct route as dictated by state permits. Other responsibilities include keeping an eye out for upcoming obstacles or traffic.
Chase cars on the other hand, are responsible for letting the truck driver know about traffic coming from behind because visibility is typically quite limited when hauling these loads. When oversized vehicles need to change lanes or turn, the chase car will usually “protect” the lane by moving into it before the oversized vehicle.
When a single pilot vehicle is required, state law may dictate whether the escort vehicle should act as a lead or chase depending on the load and type of road.
What is a pole car?
A pole car, also known as a flag car, is a lead pilot car using a high pole to measure any height obstructions along a route. Pole cars are not required for wide loads but are very common when transporting tall cargo and in some states are required by law.
