EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

There was a post here a few weeks ago about hot-shot trucks, but I was wondering if anyone knows anything about pilot/escort trucking. I'm talkin bout the trucks that are in front of and behind the wide load rigs.

My Father in Law got laid off from his job about 6 months ago and has just started doing this. He started off with just some local runs, but now he is starting on some cross country runs. He just made a run to Montana that paid him 3200. 4 days there, 2.5 back. And a run to W Virginia that paid 2700 that was 6 days roundtrip. Seems like pretty good jack for nothing but drivin a truck. He dead headed back on both runs, but it seems if you could pick up a load on the way back it could be a pretty sweet gig. Hes got offers for runs nearly every day, but he is just kind of picking and choosing what he wants to do as he doesnt necissarily need the money, but cant stand sitting round the house all day.

I'm seriously thinking about getting into this, as I cant stand my current line of work and want to get out. But I am kind of watching how it works out for him over a longer period of time. Long road trips dont bother me a bit either. Once I hit the highway, I get in the zone and can drive forever. His buddy that got him into it said he made 120k last year. And knowing the house and toys that guy has I could believe that. But he is never home either. I dont need to make that much even though it would be nice. But I value my family time as well.

You are out of pocket on your vehicle, fuel, and maintence. But at the end of the year its all a business expense tax write off.

I was just wondering if anyone has ever done this, or know anyone that does this. I'd like to know how it is over a longer period of time than my FIL has been doing it. My wife keeps telling me to start doing it, Cuz she is sick of me coming home in a pissy mood every day. But I'd like to here more opinions on it before I got involved.

Man i have no experience with it but i say go for it. U said you dont need to make 120k a year and you value your family time (as does any reasonable person). Can you make it on 80k a year??......if so you will theoretically work 2/3d's as much as he does.

If you hate your job I say shove it, lifes to short and when your jobs interferes with family due to you bein stressed then a change is needed.

Hope everything works out the way you want it to and good luck


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

I agree with corbell. Life is too short to do something u don't like forever. And doing your own thing can't be beat. I had learned to dislike my job until I made my move to go on my own and 12 yrs later I wouldn't change a thing.

Go for it!!!


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it cost me $300 for escort with the high pole a day for short hauls and most of them ask for payment in cash so that could be some good money when you do it that way and there are some brokers that you could hook up with to keep you working

DO IT!!!!! Cos from what ive seen this past week alone,not a single pilot driver in oklahoma knows what they are doing!! Ive pilot cars come over a hill towards me this week with the wide load sitting 20 feet behind them and nowhere for me to get over with a horse trailer without dropping off the shoulder with gravel flying! Those trucks should be at least 80 to 100 yards back to give oncoming traffic a chance to get outa the way......... popo

Thanks for the support everyone. Its not necessarily that I hate the line of work that I am in(bodyman), its just that I dont like what it is doing to me physically. And with insurance companies getting cheaper, I am working  harder and harder to make money doing what I am doing. I have been back to work for 2 months now after being off for three due to my back being screwed up. I am only 33yr old, and am already having these issues. I have worked with too many people in the 40s and 50s, that their backs or knees are shot and they can barely get around or are in pain every day. I absolutely do not want to be that guy.

I have been doing body work for 12 yrs, and have made more money every single year that I have done it as my skills improve. I made 76k last year, and live pretty good. And if you dont count the time I took off, and go on a weekly avg, I would be on pace for that again this year. So to answer Justins question, I could live off of 80k a year, but if I went into this, I would like to see about 90k a year as much more would be out of my pocket with vehicle costs and having to pay for my own med insurance and the like.

Its just a little scary for me to think about changing careers as bodywork is pretty much all I have ever done and I know I can make a living doing what I am currently doing. That is why I would like to see how it goes over a longer period of time.

Like I said my FIL has calls almost every day to go on runs. He is going through a broker and so far it seems like the work is out there. He is 65 yr old and got his retirement package when he got laid off, thats why he is able to pick and choose what runs he makes. He is doing it just for something to pass some time and make some extra cash. I am wondering how it would be to make a living doing it. In my mind, if I could do 2 or 3 long runs a month, and pick up a load on the way back it sounds pretty sweet. Just a lot of unknowns for me. Thats why I was throwing it out here to see if anyone had any experience with it.

When u go into business for yourself u will see that your " personal" expenses go down and are replaced by deductible " business expenses. Truck notes,maintenance,fuel, uniforms, tools,etc are all deductible. I am a plumbing contractor and live on about 35k a yr personal... rolleyes. Still debating with my accountant on the dog issue. I'm trying to deduct them since I'm training them to sniff out gas and water leaks, sucks that sometimes when I'm training them for this line of work they find a hog >:D

As i told my soldiers when i was a sgt, n told the guys under me in afghan. A happy worker is a productive worker. If u r unhappy then its time for a move n this job sounds like a move for the better

TRY IT. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO BODY WORK IF IT DOSENT WORK OUT.