Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Best Practices Guidelines

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Contact Information: Freight Feedback at FreightFeedback@dot.gov

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Publication #: FHWA HOP-16-051

February 2017

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Table of Contents

[ Notice and Quality Assurance Statement ] [ Technical Report Documentation Page ]

OVERVIEW
I. TRIP PRE-PLANNING
	A. ASSIGNMENT CONFIRMATION
	B. ROUTE REVIEW
	C. ESCORT VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT PREPARATION
	D. PILOT/ESCORT VEHICLE OPERATORS CHECKLIST
II. PRE-TRIP SAFETY MEETING
	A. ASSIGN TASKS
	B. REVIEW ROUTE
	C. REVIEW LOAD LIMITATIONS
	D. TEST COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
		When Pre-Trip Activities Are Not Possible
III. LOAD MOVEMENT
	A. KNOW THE LOAD
	B. KNOW THE LAW
	C. POSITION VEHICLES IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REGULATIONS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
	D. PREPARE FOR LOAD MOVEMENT
IV. TRAFFIC CONTROL
	A. KNOW THE LAWS ABOUT FLAGGING AUTHORITY, EQUIPMENT, AND PROCEDURES
	B. DEVELOP AND FOLLOW A TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN (TCP)
	C. USE PROPER EQUIPMENT AS REQUIRED
	D. DEFENSIVE FLAGGING GUIDELINES
		Flagging DOs and DON'Ts
		Additional Traffic Control Issues
		Traffic Control Authority
V. SPECIAL CHALLENGES
	A. RAILROAD CROSSINGS
		If Load Becomes Lodged at a Railroad Crossing
		Railroad Crossing Safety Reminders
	B. TALL LOADS AND OVERHEAD OBSTRUCTIONS
		Calibration of the Height Pole
	C. STEERABLE TRAILERS/TILLERMAN OPERATIONS
VI. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
	A. INJURY ISSUES
VII. SSIGNMENT CONCLUSION/POST-TRIP ACTIVITIES
	A. IMMEDIATE POST-TRIP DUTIES
VIII. ASSIGNMENT EVALUATION/QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW
	A. TRIP LOGS
		Evaluate Assignment
		Evaluate Route Survey
		Evaluate Communication Equipment and Procedures
		Evaluate Overall Team Dynamics
		Evaluate Emergency Responses

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
Toll-Free "Help Line" 866-367-7487

www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov

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