Estevan 鈥� Looking at a looming layoff, Barrie McMillan decided the time was right to strike out on his own and start his own pilot truck service.
So with fresh decals on his truck, lights, D (for 鈥渄imension鈥�) sign, fire extinguisher and first aid kit, he fired up operations in late May. A second truck, to be run by owner-operator Cecil Munro, was in the process of being kitted out.
鈥淚 figured there should be a proper service for pilot cars in Estevan; not a hot shot, but strictly pilot cars,鈥� McMillan said at the Tim Hortons, where his wife., Rhonda is in management.
Rhonda does all the admin work for Estevan Escorts. 鈥淪he might be driving once things get busy,鈥� he added.
Using smaller vehicles to guide larger ones is nothing new to McMillan. 鈥淚鈥檓 a tugboat captain,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 a 150-ton ticketed skipper. I used to run barges down the B.C. coast, from Victoria to Alaska. With tugs I travelled all around (Vancouver) Island.
I moved out here because the work got dry five years ago. We weren鈥檛 getting enough work,鈥� he said.
McMillan trucked seafood on Vancouver Island when he came off the tugs.聽聽
Munroe said, 鈥淚 have done pilot service in the past with Sams; Baxters. I鈥檝e done hotshot and delivery.
鈥淭hings slowed right down. I still have a courier business on the side,鈥� he added.
McMillan said, 鈥淲e were laid off with the (spring) breakup.鈥�
They made the decision to go ahead with this new venture at that time. They knew some people are looking for pilots, and there鈥檚 a constant flow of trucks hauling oversized loads from the U.S., passing through the area.
So McMillan got his truck rigged up with lights, signs, and all the associated safety gear he would need. Munroe鈥檚 truck was next on the list, when the pair spoke to Pipeline News in late May. Both drive Dodge 1500 pickups.
McMillan has had his fitted out with an auxiliary 400 litre tank to provide extra range.
鈥淭he truck is totally equipped,鈥� he said. This includes radios, both handheld, and hardmounted.
There the possibility of adding a pole on the truck to ensure clearance for high loads.
鈥淭he truck is ready to go,鈥� McMillan said. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 push time. We鈥檙e a serious pilot truck business. We鈥檙e in this for the long haul.鈥�
