If you own a pilot car business, you must do all you can to stay in business, and one of the things you are expected to do is to set up a structure that will help you attract clients; that is, getting oversized loads.
The truth is that no one mold fits all when it comes to how you can find oversized loads for your pilot car business, but we will try and cover surefire strategies that have worked for pilot car business owners.
Note that by leveraging these strategies and actively seeking out oversized load opportunities, you can effectively grow your pilot car business and secure a steady flow of clients.
9 Ways to Find Oversize Loads for Your Pilot Car Business
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Establish Relationships with Freight Brokers
This is very important because freight brokers are your go-to partners when it comes to the pilot car business. Freight brokers are known to handle shipments of oversized or overweight loads for their clients, and this often happens regularly.
Apart from that, freight brokers can also provide leads on available opportunities for pilot car services within a specific location.
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Join Industry Associations
In this line of business, you cannot operate in isolation, you will need to work with businesses in your industry association. There are certain industry associations you will join that you can be assured of getting steady contracts via referrals.
By joining associations such as the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), it will be easier for you to connect with companies in need of pilot car services.
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Utilize Online Load Boards
In the United States, especially in the transport and logistics industry, there are load boards, and these load boards serve as online platforms where shippers, brokers, and carriers can connect to find available freight, including oversized loads, requiring pilot car services for safe transportation.
For example, online load boards like uShip, DAT Load Board, and Truckstop.com are known to always feature listings for oversized loads requiring pilot car escorts.
Your ability to take advantage of these platforms will go a long way to determining how fast you can build your clientele base as a pilot car operator.
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Collaborate with Trucking Companies
You should look for opportunities to collaborate with trucking companies in and around your area of operation. Trust me, if you can go into partnership with trucking companies that specialize in hauling oversized loads, you can rest assured that whenever there are ongoing opportunities for pilot car services, your company will be contacted.
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Attend Trade Shows and Conferences
Do you know that by attending relevant trade shows and conferences as a pilot car operator, you will be able to position your business for opportunities that have to do with escorting oversized loads?
Absolutely, by attending trade shows and conferences, other attendees of such conferences and trade shows will see you as a serious business owner who wants to grow and deliver top-notch services.
With that, it will be easier for them to hire your services or recommend your business. Interestingly, as a pilot car operator, you can attend industry events such as the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) and SC&RA Annual Conference.
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Build an Online Presence
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to build an online presence for your pilot car business. All you need to do is create a website and social media profiles to showcase your pilot car services.
With that, all those with oversized loads who are looking for pilot cars to escort their trucks will easily find you and perhaps engage your services.
Note that you will be required to encourage people to leave positive reviews about your company and services if indeed you want to be competitive online.
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Advertise Locally
There are no restrictions when it comes to the level you can go to or the platforms you can advertise your pilot car business when searching for oversized loads. For starters, you can advertise your pilot car services in local publications, industry magazines, and directories.
With that, you can easily reach out to companies in need of oversized load escorts and are searching for reliable a pilot car company to work with.
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Cold Calling and Outreach
With cold calling, you can easily reach out directly to companies involved in oversized hauling, construction, or heavy equipment transportation to offer your pilot car services. Your ability to market and convince them to use your services will depend on your marketing and sales team’s effectiveness.
This is why before leveraging cold calling and outreach when looking for oversized loads for your pilot car business, you must take your sales team through comprehensive training.
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Monitor Permit Websites
In the United States, there are government websites that issue oversized load permits, and these government websites regularly list upcoming shipments and also provide insights into potential opportunities for pilot car escorts. By monitoring such websites, you will be able to promptly bid for escort contracts once they are published or advertised.