04/15/2026
To all the private commuters out there who feel like they want to help the oversize loads...
Thank you. We as pilots and our oversize drivers are busy in our minds. Pilots strategize every corner, we try to stop traffic far enough away from the corner that there is no impediment to a driver turning and keeping all the wheels (or at least most of the wheels) on the pavement. The driver is making sure he doesn't flop his load over. Like, these guys and gals are true pro's! How those drivers do not freak out on every angle is a mystery to me. As a pilot, it is my job to watch. When I an out in front I may cut you off, honk my horn, and throw out a stop sign. I AM SOMEWHAT AGGRESSIVE about it. I care, I really do! But my number 1 priority is the movement of the truck behind me. We have very specific time lines in which to get our travelling done and every minute counts. Lots of folks get a tiny bit offended because pilots seem indifferent or angry. There is one thing that I would ask as a Canadian pilot car in Alberta and across all the provinces... patience. Most of the people i have worked with the the 23 years i have been piloting know what they are doing and are very good at their work. Until someone on a mission throws themself into the fray. People have no idea how many times a professional driver saves their life; everyday! Because they are patient and aware of their surroundings moving huge weight and sometimes astronomically huge dimensions. On average it takes up to eight, 8 football fields to safely stop a loaded commercial truck. Of course that changes with increased weight, and going down hill? Ugh! A nightmare! (Potentially)
So, if you see an oversize load on the road; a shack hauler, a house mover, an equipment hauler.... with pilots whose lights are blinking.. it doesn't matter, a large truck... Please be patient. We have all likely had a long day, are out of coffee, need a cigarette and a walk and are doing our job. We do not want you in the way. We are in the process of moving a rolling hazard and it is our purpose to keep you safe.
Thanks
From the Pilots everywhere.
