Perfecting the Partnership Between Pilot Cars and Carriers(Breakout Session 2)

Maureen Mandich Mike Morgan Randy SorensonRob Simon

History of the Pilot Car Industry

RSA Network Inc.

Presentation provided by:

President – Randy Sorenson

Professional Escort Vehicle Operators AssociationPresident – Randy Sorenson

History of the Pilot Car Industry:

1977 – Virginia DOT implements Pilot Escort Driver CertificationProgram consists of a manual and test. No classroom instruction. Pilot Car Driver was required to read the manual, go the DMC and take the test.

1990 – Utah DOT creates Steering Committee to review current Rules and Regulations concerning Over-Dimensional Loads. Committee identifies a need to have the Pilot Escort Drivers have Traffic Management ability. Develops specific UDOT Regulations that allow the Pilot Escort Driver to have Flagging authority and also be in compliance with existing State Law and the MUTCD Flagger requirements.

1991 – Utah DOT implements Pilot Escort Driver Certification which requires a minimum of 8 hour classroom instruction. Flagger Certification is part of this program.

1993 – New York DOT implements Pilot Escort Driver Certification. Program consists of a manual and a test. No Classroom instruction required and remains virtually unchanged since inception. New York DOT requires the Pilot Escort Driver to be a flagger and manage traffic during load movement. Program format similar in nature to the Virginia DOT program.

History of the Pilot Car Industry Conti:

1995/6 – Florida DOT implements Pilot Escort Driver Certification. This program mirrored the Utah program and required an 8 hour classroom instruction. Flagging Certification was part of this program. Defensive Driver Course Certification or hold a CDL was also required.

1998 – Colorado DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver Certification that mirrored the Virginia Pilot Escort Driver Certification. Flagging was not included or addressed within this program. No classroom instruction was required. A manual was supplied and a test completed at the CDOT Offices.

2000 – Oklahoma DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver Certification. This program mirrored the Utah program and required an 8 hour classroom instruction. Flagging Certification was part of this program

2001 – North Carolina DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver Certification. This program mirrored the Washington DOT Program and required an 8 hour classroom instruction. Flagging is not addressed within this program.

1998 – Washington DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver Certification that was very similar to the Utah Pilot Escort Driver Certification. Flagging was not included or addressed within this program.

History of the Pilot Car Industry Conti:

2001 – Kansas DOT implements Pilot Car Superload Certification. No manual, No Test, No classroom instruction. Complete a Superload Certification form and fax to Kansas DOT. Defensive Driver Certification required.

2004 – FHWA released 2 documents: Pilot Escort Driver Best Practices Guidelines and Law Enforcement Escort Best Practices Guidelines.

2002 – NTSB releases the finding from the Glendale California incident with recommendations for the development of Pilot Escort Driver Certification Standards. Also recommended that the Law Enforcement Escorts have a Training Standard developed.

2005 – Utah DOT undertakes review of the Pilot Escort Driver Certification program and determines that the Utah program is already meeting these new guidelines by FHWA but went beyond this recommendation. Flagging, Insurance, Safety Equipment were not addressed within the FHWA documents which Utah was addressing and requiring. There were also other short-comings of this FHWA document

2002 – FHWA releases a contract to SC&RA to lead the development of Pilot Escort Driver and Law Enforcement Escort Standards of Training. FHWA, SC&RA, CVSA and Pilot Cars from across the country begin work on these recommendations.

History of the Pilot Car Industry Conti:

2007 – Colorado DOT reworks the Pilot Escort Driver Certification and mirrors the Utah DOT program. Flagging is a requirement of the Pilot Escort Driver. 8 hour classroom instruction now required.

2008 – WASHTO Trucking Guide amended to include language that the Pilot Car Driver should not steer the rear axles of the commercial vehicle

2007 – Utah, Florida and Oklahoma now require insurance of the Pilot Escorts. PA also implemented Insurance requirements but did not require the Pilot Car Driver to be Certified.

2011 – Georgia DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver Certification program. This program as conducted today does not meet the FHWA Pilot Escort Driver Best Practices Guidelines and as such many States do not accept this certification.

2008 – Utah DOT implements Law Enforcement Escort certification program. Utah DOT restricts the Pilot Escort Driver from steering the rear axles of the commercial vehicle.

2010 – Arizona DOT implements Pilot Escort Driver Certification that mirrors the Utah DOT program and also requires the Pilot Car Driver to hold a Flagging Certification.

History of the Pilot Car Industry Conti:

2011 – Wisconsin DOT amends Rules and Regulations to now require the Pilot Escort Driver to be formally trained.

2015 – FHWA release contract to update the Pilot Escort Driver Best Practices Guidelines. Work should be completed by mid-2016.

2012 – Minnesota DOT implements a Pilot Escort Driver and Law Enforcement Escort Certification program. This program mirrored the Utah and Colorado Pilot Escort Driver Certification Program

2014 – NTSB publishes Skagit River Bridge Collapse report.

2016 – NHTSA – enters into an agreement with all vehicle manufactures that will now mandate “Forward Collision Avoidance Systems” by 2020. This will have a direct impact on the placement as currently required by the State’s DOT concerning the placement of the “Oversize Load” signs required on the Pilot Escort Vehicle and the OSOW Load. States must change Rules and Regulations quickly to address this new mandated safety equipment on newer vehicles.

2016 – October – PADOT implements Superload Pilot Escort Driver Certification. PADOT does not have a training program that will meet the FHWA Pilot Escort Driver Best Practices Guidelines at the current time. PADOT is working on this issue at the current time.

Quick Bio of Randy Sorenson:1974 Obtained Commercial Drivers License, working for the Bell System, transport heavy

equipment and heavy equipment operator.1987 Began moving OSOW Loads as a Driver and also started a Pilot Escort Company in Utah.1987 To Current - Holds Patents on various products. Author and copyright of PE books and

manuals. Vehicle mounted Height Measuring Laser used in conjunction with Route Surveys and the movement of OSOW Loads is the latest patent pending product.

1991 Created the Pilot Escort Driver Certification Training Program for the Utah Department of Transportation. Continually approved and authorized to provide the Training for UDOT. Continues to provide this training.

1995 Created the Pilot Escort Driver Certification Training Program for the Florida Department of Transportation. Provided the training for 12 FSU instructors and turned the program over to the University in 1999.

1998 Assisted the Washington Department of Transportation with the creation of the Pilot Escort Driver Certification.

1999 To Current – Expert Witness and testified in Federal cases in many incidents involving OSOW Loads and Pilot Escorts.

2000 Assisted OSU with the development of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Pilot Escort Driver Certification.

2001 Assisted NCDOT with the development of the Pilot Escort Driver Certification program.

Quick Bio of Randy Sorenson Conti:2005 Reworked the UDOT Pilot Escort Certification Program to comply with new Rules established

by UDOT.2006 Founding member of the Professional Escort Vehicle Operators Association. President at the

current time.2007 Developed the Training materials for Colorado Department of Transportation and was

authorized to provide the Pilot Escort Driver Certification. Continues to be authorized to provide this training for CDOT.

2008 Brought forth the legal and liability issues surrounding the Tillerman/Steerman to WASHTO and to FMCSA. Instrumental in changes regarding steerable loads and how Pilot Car Drivers are involved.

2009 Original Member of the Minnesota General Contractors Association Pilot Escort Driver Certification Steering Committee. Assisted Minnesota with the implementation of a Pilot Escort Driver Certification over 4 years and was implemented in 2012.

2010 Logistical Support Services, including Permitting, Route Survey, Pilot Cars, Security, Law Enforcement coordination, Utility coordination for manufacturing companies including Lockheed Martin.

2010/5 Insurance Program created specifically for the Pilot Escort Industry, established by PEVOA after 4 years of work. This program was reworked in 2015 with new insurance providers added.

1990/2017 Member of the Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division Steering Committee.

2001 To Current – President of RSA Network Inc.

End of Presentation

© RSA Network Inc. 2017