Joyner Pilot Services
Pilot Services escorts oversized and overweight loads to ensure safe and compliant transportation. We support drivers throughout their routes by providing pilot vehicle services, monitoring road conditions, and helping navigate potential hazards while maintaining safety for drivers and the public.
Department Head
Marian King
Director of Joyner Freight
Last Updated
January 2026
Page content & resources
Hours of Operation
24 / 7
Always available for escort needs
How to Work With Us
1
Submit or Call
Submit a pilot escort or route survey request using Quick Links or contact the Pilot Services team.
Takes 2 min
2
We Review
A team member reviews your request within 8 hours and assesses the load, route, and escort requirements.
Within 8 hrs
3
We Escort
A certified pilot driver is dispatched and the move is coordinated — you are updated via Teams or email.
Within 2 hrs
4
Confirmation
You receive move confirmation and any documentation or follow-up notes via email.
Move complete
Department News
View allUpdate
Pilot Services expanding to 2 certified escort drivers per Joyner Freight hub city — hiring underway in Q1 2026
General
Oversize load permit process updated — all heavy haul moves require permit confirmation before departure
General
Route survey documentation now required for all moves exceeding state legal weight or dimension limits
Update
Pilot vehicle inspection checklist updated — all escort vehicles must use the new 2026 form before every assignment
Our Mission
To provide safe, courteous, professional, and experienced escort and pilot drivers ensuring seamless vehicle movement and traffic control management. Our services are designed for any oversized or overweight vehicle movement. We are dedicated to completing each job safely — moving wide and overweight loads on highways and local roads with the least possible delay and inconvenience to the driving public.
Department Announcements
View allUpdate
Expanding to 2 escort drivers per hub city — hiring underway in Q1 2026
General
All heavy haul moves now require permit confirmation before departure
General
2026 pilot vehicle inspection checklist now required for every assignment
Services We Offer
Escort Driving
Certified pilot/escort drivers accompany oversized and overweight loads along their routes, providing a visible safety presence, managing traffic control, and communicating with the haul driver to navigate hazards, low clearances, and congested areas safely.
Route Survey
Before an oversized load moves, the Pilot Services team surveys and plans the route — identifying bridge clearances, overhead obstructions, weight restrictions, turning radii, and road conditions that could affect the move. Every route plan is documented and shared with the driver team before departure.
Heavy Haul Planning
Coordinates the full logistics of moving oversized and overweight loads — including permit acquisition, pilot vehicle scheduling, route timing, law enforcement coordination, and contingency planning to ensure every heavy haul move is executed safely and on schedule.
Strategic Goals
1
Influence and contribute to customer focused solutions — ensuring every oversized load move is safe, on time, and professionally executed.2
Positively influence company expenses and manage risk exposures through safe driving practices and accident prevention.3
Develop employees for company needs through ongoing pilot driver certification, safety training, and professional development.4
Avoid increases in truck insurance rates by preventing accidents through professional escort practices and thorough route planning.5
Increase the customer base for Pilot Services across all active Joyner Freight markets.6
Operate at least 2 certified pilot drivers in each city where Joyner Freight operates.How We Add Value
We Connect
We connect with you because we are in this together. Pilot Services works alongside Joyner Freight drivers and operations teams to ensure every oversized move is safe, compliant, and completed with professionalism.
We Enable
We enable the customer experience through our escort processes, route surveys, and heavy haul planning — giving drivers and operations teams the safety support they need to move oversized loads with confidence.
We Own
We own our responsibilities, decisions, and outcomes that you entrust with us — accompanying every load with trained professionals who take safety personally.
We Make Roads Safer
We make road travel safer for the oversize load driver and all motorists on the road — serving as a visible, professional safety presence that protects the public throughout every move.
We Protect the Load
We prevent damage to the loads being hauled — monitoring clearances, road conditions, and hazards in real time so drivers can focus on the road ahead.
We Keep Traffic Moving
We keep delays in the normal flow of traffic to a minimum — planning routes and timing moves to reduce the impact on the public and get loads to their destination efficiently.
Policies & SOPs
View allPilot Vehicle Inspection SOP
SOP · Jan 2026
Route Survey Standards
Guide · Jan 2026
Oversize Load Permit Policy
Policy · Jan 2026
Incident Reporting SOP
SOP · Jan 2026
ELD & HOS Compliance Guide
Guide · Jan 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a pilot or escort vehicle required for a load?
Pilot and escort vehicle requirements are determined by state and local regulations based on the load’s dimensions and weight. Generally, loads exceeding legal width, height, length, or weight limits require one or more escort vehicles. Requirements vary by state — some require front escorts only, others require both front and rear, and some routes require law enforcement escorts. Contact Pilot Services before scheduling any oversize or overweight move to confirm escort requirements for the specific route and jurisdictions involved.
How do I request a route survey for an oversized load?
Route survey requests are submitted using the “View Schedule” or general request Quick Link, or by contacting Pilot Services directly at pilot@myjoyner.com. Include the origin and destination, the load dimensions and weight, the planned move date, and any known route constraints. Pilot Services will survey the route for bridge clearances, overhead obstructions, turning restrictions, weight limits, and road conditions — then provide a documented route plan before the move is scheduled.
What permits are needed for oversize and overweight loads?
Oversize and overweight loads require state-issued permits for each state the load travels through. Permit requirements include the load’s dimensions, weight, origin, destination, and planned route. Some states also require travel time restrictions (daytime only, no holidays, etc.) and law enforcement escorts for certain loads. Pilot Services coordinates permit acquisition as part of heavy haul planning. All permits must be confirmed before the load departs — no oversize moves are authorized without valid permits in hand.
What should I do if I encounter an unexpected hazard during an escort move?
If an unexpected hazard is encountered during an escort move — such as a low clearance, road closure, bridge weight restriction, or traffic incident — stop the move immediately if it is unsafe to proceed. Contact Pilot Services and Driver Services at (877) 240-9784. Do not attempt to navigate a hazard without authorization. Pilot Services will assess the situation, coordinate an alternate route if needed, and communicate with the haul driver and any law enforcement on scene. Document everything and submit an incident report using the Quick Link.
How many pilot drivers does Joyner operate and where are they located?
Joyner Pilot Services is actively expanding to maintain at least 2 certified pilot drivers in each city where Joyner Freight operates. This expansion is underway in Q1 2026. Pilot drivers are assigned based on the location of the move and available capacity. For current pilot driver availability in a specific city or market, contact Pilot Services at pilot@myjoyner.com.
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