If you run a business transporting overweight and oversized cargo, consider employing pilot car services. In some states, such as Indiana, it’s a legal offense for a permitted vehicle to transport without an escort if it exceeds 12’4” in width, 110’ in length, or 14’6” in height.
Flag car services can play a critical role in the safe transitioning of cargo. Their presence helps reduce the risks to the transport crew, road users, and load. You must be sure by now that you must employ flag car services, so you should consider making the best of them to get the most gains.
Let’s look at how you can make the most of flag car services in Indiana.
Requirements For Flag Car Services in Indiana
Businesses should abide by the laws and regulations to avoid getting a bad name. Operating in Indiana, there are specific requirements for an escort vehicle if you transport overweight cargo.
One Escort car is crucial if the vehicle is carrying a load over 12’4” in width, 110’ in length, or 14’6” in height.
If the load is beyond the height limit of 14’6, the escort should also carry a height pole in front of the load. You will require two escorts if the loads weigh between 14’4 in length and the width of 17’. The pilot cars should have at least four wheels with a maximum gross weight of 11,000 lbs.
The escort vehicle should have a flashing light mounted on top, red flags, radio communication, and an oversized load sign. The Pilot and the transport vehicles should stay close to each other’s range of 500 feet. Follow the link to learn complete details about Indiana’s escort vehicle requirements.
Comprehensive Guide to Pilot Cars
If your freight is over-dimensional or overweight, why take a chance instead of hiring a pilot car to ensure safe delivery? Moreover, escort vehicles also prevent the infrastructure from being damaged. It ensures that there are no delays by avoiding traffic and managing flow.
By preventing accidents, you can save yourself from the associated costs. Hence, hiring a flad car service is a win-win for the business and the environment. Well, it might seem that the pilot car drivers are just sitting all day ahead of their load doing nothing, but that’s not true!
They are professional drivers who keep an eagle’s eye on your vehicle and warn its driver of the possible blockage coming ahead. We have given you enough reasons to choose the right flag car service in Indiana and make the most of it. Follow the comprehensive guide below to best use your Indiana pilot car services.
Understand How Flag Services Work
Flag service providers usually offer Lead car, high pole, flag, and route survey services. Your best catch is to employ car pole service providers such as 365 Pilots that provide all these at competitive rates. Afterward, analyze the service you need and enquire about the rates. Car pilot services usually charge for every mile covered but have separate rates for long miles, so decide according to your route.
Check the Rules and Implications
Get complete knowledge about the laws related to oversized cargo transportation so you don’t get into any legal problems. Also, ensure your flag car service provider has the certificate and is legally permitted to offer such services. The pilot car driver should also have the training and expertise to carry out the task so that you can inquire about his experience for the safe side.
Understand Your Cargo
You can make the most of your flag car services only if you hire the right pilot car for your transport vehicle. Hence, understand the dimensions of your cargo and have your service provider suggest different pilot car options. Also, there are different charges for day and night escorts, so choose the one that best fits your budget and business.
Select the Right Escort
When you understand your cargo, you’ll know what pilot car is best for the desired load. Sometimes, when the payload exceeds the stated limit, you must get two escorts. Discuss the type of pilot car option and the number of pilot cars you’ll need.
Check for the Safety Equipments
The pilot car should have safety equipment such as oversized cargo signs, red flags, rooftop-mounted flashlights, two-way radio, a fire extinguisher, and a first-aid kit. If your cargo height exceeds the average height limit mentioned above, then you will also need high pole services to prevent the cargo from any infrastructure damage. Luckily, 365 Pilots offers reliable high-pole services you can trust.
Establish Effective Communication.
Establish effective communication between the pilot car driver and the freight car driver. This way, they will guide any blockage or alerting situation on the delivery route. They should also be co-ordinated closely by the immediate head throughout their journey.
Conduct a Route Assessment beforehand
The pilot car driver should do a proper route assessment to know of the possible threats ahead and plan accordingly. He should report his analysis to the immediate head to ensure everyone is informed about the routes that will be taken during transportation.
Account For the extremities of Weather
The weather may take a toll on you during the trip, so ensure the pilot car driver stays connected about the weather updates. It’s also a good practice to check for weather and traffic updates on your route to plan your trip accordingly.
Stay Informed About the Latest Trends
There may be changes and developments in the practices related to oversized load transportation. Keep yourself updated about the latest developments to adapt to the changes.
Final Words
When investing in employing services, measure all the possible ways to make the best use of it. The tips above will help you understand how to make the most of the flag car services in Indiana for the business’s best interest.
And if you are still determining which flag car service providers to trust, try 365 Pilots. Our experienced drivers are trained to deliver your over cargo safely to its destination. So, make the right decision and trust 365 Pilots to hire one of the best-equipped pilot cars.
