FHA Pilot Car Escort Best Practices Guidelines

Pretrip planning and oversize or overweight load movement best practices and tips for pilot car escorts.

The Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA) with funds provided by grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Freight Management and Operations and in cooperation with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) prepared these guidelines. The contents of the guidelines are the result of extensive research and analysis conducted by the association, a review of federal and state regulations and “Best Practice” analysis of existing Pilot Car Escort training materials. Input was solicited from subject matter experts representing specialized carriers, pilot car escorts, permitting officials, federal highway officials and training specialists. Comments concerning the contents were received from various entities including, the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Keen Transport, Inc., DAWES Specialized Transportation, COMDATA and the Pilot Car Escort Training Project Working Group. Their input is gratefully acknowledged. The Working Group included representatives from the pilot car escort industry, SC&RA, FHWA and a training specialist.

The guidelines summarize the results of extensive research and…