Question of the Month
February
2005
Which
states
require certification or training for drivers of "pilot" or
"escort" vehicles?
According to the National
Transportation Safety Board, 10 U.S. states mandate some type of
pilot/escort driver certification. Only one Midwestern state, Kansas,
has such a requirement. The other states are Arizona, Colorado,
Florida, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and
Washington.
Displaying "wide load"
signage, warning flags and flashing lights, pilot vehicles are used to
escort wide and oversized cargo pulled by tractor-trailer trucks.
Their purpose is to protect the driving public as well as the
oversized cargo. The pilot vehicle’s driver communicates with the
operator of the tractor-trailer to keep him or her aware of driving
and road conditions.
States differ in their certification
requirements; in Kansas, a defensive-driving class approved by the
National Safety Council must be completed. Other states’
prerequisites include passing a test based on a manual for pilot
drivers, holding a valid commercial driver’s license, submitting to
a vehicle inspection and providing a certificate of commercial
insurance. Most states will honor another’s certification once any
necessary paperwork is completed.
Some states require certain sized loads
to use pilot cars with specific equipment. Regulations also dictate
the size, type and color of lights used in the pilot vehicle as well
as the type of communication used between it and the truck. In most
states, vehicles carrying oversized loads require a permit. States
also place limits on moving certain size and weight loads during
daylight hours, while some do not allow trucks carrying oversized
loads to travel on holidays.
In October 2004, the Specialized
Carriers and Rigging Association, the Federal Highway Administration
and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance published a set of
guidelines for pilot vehicles. Titled "Pilot Car Escort: Best
Practices and Guidelines," the report covers such topics as
permit confirmation, route planning, safety equipment checks,
contingency plans and safe maneuvering techniques. A copy of the
publication is available at
www.cvsa.org/committees/documents/pilotcarbestpracticesguidelines_scra.pdf.
For
more information on this or any other public policy issue, please call
630-925-1922 or complete the online
form for research services.
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