Arizona Escort Vehicle Operator Certification Requirements
Overview of Arizona Law
Every person operating an escort vehicle (pilot car) must be trained and certified in safety best practices for escorting over-dimensional loads. The training curriculum is based on the Pilot Car Escort Best Practices Guidelines developed cooperatively by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA). Escort vehicle operators who do not possess a valid Arizona Escort Vehicle Operator certificate, or a valid certificate from any of the other nine states* (listed below) that require certification, will be cited and the load they are escorting placed out of service.
Arizona law requires traffic control training for escort vehicle operators effective October 1, 2009. The Arizona DPS has granted one final grace period until January 31, 2010, for existing Arizona certified escort vehicle operators to receive this traffic control training. If you do not attend one of these classes your certification will be cancelled effective February 1st, 2010.
Under an agreement with ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division, the Arizona Trucking Association offers the Escort Vehicle Operator training and certification, issues the recognized certification cards and maintains the database of certified operators that is accessible to enforcement officers and companies hiring pilot car services. Certification is valid for four (4) years. Click here to view database of currently certified operators.
Why Traffic Control Training?
Traffic control training is a necessary first step in achieving reciprocity with other states. While Arizona's original escort vehicle operator/pilot car certification allowed for certification issued by these states to meet Arizona requirements, some of these states have been unwilling to accept Arizona's ceritification because it did not include training in traffic control best practices. Inclusion of traffic control training allows Arizona to pursue full reciprocity with other states that require pilot car operator certification (see list below).
While Arizona pilot car operators are being trained in traffic control best practices, ATA will be seeking traffic control authority from the Arizona Legislature under guidelines to be developed by ADOT, Arizona Department of Public Safety and industry groups. Some states may already allow limited traffic control by pilot car operators that are properly trained and certified. It is up to individual pilot car operators to be aware of the related requirements in each state where they escort over-dimensional loads .
Training Options
Beginning with the Escort Vehicle Operator Certification (EVOC) class scheduled for October 17, all future classes offered by ATA will include the National Safety Council's flagger training. The dates of flagger-only training classes, as well as future EVOC classes, can be found under the Events & Seminars tab. To show law enforcement officials that they have completed the mandated traffic control training, pilot car operators will be required to have a new certification card in their possession.
Escort vehicle operators already trained and certified by another state that requires traffic control training may present that state’s certificate to law enforcement officials as proof of valid certification, as long as the certificate is valid in the certifying state.
Escort vehicle operators having a certification expiration date of two years or less may want to consider attending a full EVOC class now to obtain recertification that will be good for another four years. The alternative is to take the traffic control training now and then, in two years or less, when your EVOC certificate expires, take the full recertification at that time.
Following completion of training classes, each applicant must pass a test covering the best practices subject matter and must score 80% to pass. Once passed, the applicant receives a signed and laminated Pilot Car Certification Card. Neither the Arizona Trucking Association nor any of its instructors guarantee that an individual will pass the certification.
Groups of twenty or more participants may qualify for onsite training depending upon availability of instructional staff. Call us at 602-850-6000 to discuss onsite class scheduling.
*Other states that require escort vehicle/pilot car operator training and certification are: Colorado; Florida; Kansas; New York; North Carolina; Oklahoma; Utah; Virginia; and Washington.
ESCORT VEHICLE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION: (includes new mandated traffic control training)
May 29: Escort Vehicle Operator Certification Training, 8:00AM - 5:00PM, ATA
Registration form will be posted soon.
August 28: Escort Vehicle Operator Certification Training, 8:00AM - 5:00PM, ATA
Registration form will be posted soon.
- Download an application for the January EVOC traffic control/flagger training classes here.
- Complete the application according to the directions on the application and deliver, mail or fax to the address listed on the application along with payment before the indicated deadline.
To read Arizona rules and statutes governing Pilot Escort Vehicle operation, training and certification standards << click here >> for a PDF entitled “Pilot Car Operator Rules". This 10-page document outlines the requirements that were put into rule in September 2006, based on Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 28-1110.
Click here to view the the 4-page document of changes that were put into rule in September 2009, based on amendments to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 28-1110.