Stephen Patrick Day is a Houston executive who leads Logistics Group International (LGI) and provides heavy haul transportation solutions, including oversized and overweight shipments. Some shipments require the use of an escort or pilot car to help the driver transporting the oversized cargo safely navigate the interstate highway systems. The drivers of the escort or pilot car company are trained in this specialized task and usually have their car, SUV, or truck outfitted with easily identifiable warning signs. These include bright flags and flashing lights designed to capture drivers’ attention on the road. Pilot car drivers also carry emergency supplies, from first aid to fire extinguishers, communicating closely with the oversized load truck drivers via CB. Beyond weight and width, one scenario in which escort vehicles are essential is when oversized loads are very high. In this case, the pilot car has height poles attached that effectively test out the dimensions of overhead obstacles and bridges before the big rig passes under them. This provides ample warning if clearance proves to be not enough for a given load’s dimensions.

1. How Escorts and Pilot Cars assist Trucks
with Over-Size Loads
Stephen Day

2. Introduction
Stephen Patrick Day is a Houston executive who leads Logistics Group International (LGI)
and provides heavy haul transportation solutions, including oversized and overweight
shipments. Some shipments require the use of an escort or pilot car to help the driver
transporting the oversized cargo safely navigate the interstate highway systems.

3. The drivers of the escort or pilot car company are trained in this specialized task and
usually have their car, SUV, or truck outfitted with easily identifiable warning signs.
These include bright flags and flashing lights designed to capture drivers’ attention on
the road. Pilot car drivers also carry emergency supplies, from first aid to fire
extinguishers, communicating closely with the oversized load truck drivers via CB.

4. Beyond weight and width, one scenario in which escort vehicles are essential is when
oversized loads are very high. In this case, the pilot car has height poles attached that
effectively test out the dimensions of overhead obstacles and bridges before the big rig
passes under them. This provides ample warning if clearance proves to be not enough
for a given load’s dimensions.