Fraudulent pilot car certifications aren’t just a paperwork issue; they pose serious risks to safety, operations, and liability. During the Fall 2025 WASHTO meeting, Craig Hurst, Manager of Colorado’s Freight Mobility & Safety Branch, sounded the alarm on this growing problem. A few months later, we followed up with Craig for a Q&A to dig deeper into the risks, documented cases, and what the future might hold for the industry. We also reached out to Michelle Kind, President and Executive Director of Evergreen Safety Council, a nationally recognized authority on roadway safety and pilot/escort vehicle programs, for her expert perspective on the pilot car industry.

Risks to Carriers and Brokers

Q: What are the legal, financial, and reputational consequences when a carrier or broker unknowingly hires a pilot car with fraudulent credentials?

“One operational risk is that you could be shut down at the beginning of a route, or even in the middle of a route. If the load passes a Port of Entry, it must pull into the port. The Port Officer can check to ensure the pilot escorts are following all Colorado regulations and ask for their certification. If the pilot car driver is out of compliance, that load cannot legally move again until they have the minimum escort requirements met.” — Craig Hurst

“We have also had carriers dispute the fault of an accident due to the actions or inactions of a Pilot Car Driver and those claims can end up in lengthy litigations.” — Craig Hurst

The Future of the Pilot Car Industry

Q: How might widespread use of fraudulent certifications shape the industry’s credibility, safety standards, and regulatory enforcement?

“The Pilot Car Escort industry will continue to become more important throughout the country to mitigate the risks of moving larger and larger equipment, materials, and loads across the country. The certification programs are to ensure the proper training and information is passed to the Pilot Car Escorts as we are entrusting them in guiding these loads safely through the challenges presented on each route. Pilot Car Escort Drivers that are not following the regulations can jeopardize the safety and success of an entire operation. Fraudulent certifications devalue the efforts of the entire industry and can lead to more regulatory oversight, additional barriers to entry into the industry, increased insurance costs, and a negative representation of the industry’s continued focus on improving and demanding the highest expectations in operating safely. These certifications are particularly tough to enforce because each state participating in the current reciprocity agreements have their own programs, and there is not a centralized and unified program like a CDL endorsement.” — Craig Hurst

Documented Cases

Q: Reflect on an incident involving an uncertified pilot car, its impact on public safety, the carrier’s liability, and the pilot’s accountability.

“In Colorado, although infrequent, there have been incidents where Pilot Car Escorts have been reported for taking unsafe actions to manage traffic. Complaints have come to the Freight office outlining high speed maneuvers to position the pilot car in the center of the roadway to block oncoming traffic in an unsafe and unnecessary manner. Of course that is one perspective, but when there begins to be a collection of similar complaints, lawmakers and regulators begin to respond to the issue. This is a risk for the industry because the pilot car service creates a travel freedom that may not be possible for large loads with that supportive service. It creates an additional layer of safety that Colorado lawmakers have found necessary to permit oversize and overweight loads to travel on our roadways. A loss of trust in the operational safety of this program could lead to a variety of challenges for the industry.” — Craig Hurst

“There have been Pilot Car Escorts that have been found to be not qualified due to a DUI charge or they do not have the correct insurance to do the work, but they are presenting a pilot car certification that would be otherwise valid. The driver did not self-report those disqualifications that occurred during the time of their four-year certification. There has also been at least one case where a partially smoked marijuana joint was sitting out in the open of a pilot car as the Trooper walked up to check on the driver after they had been sitting there for more than 30 minutes after the load they were escorting had hit ice and slid off of the road.” — Craig Hurst

Ideal Credential Verification Systems

Q: In a perfect world, what would an effective, reliable system for verifying pilot car credentials look like, both at the state level and within the industry?

“In a perfect world, there would be a licensing endorsement for pilot car escorts. There are many details to discuss and debate on how to do that, but I believe it is a very serious role that we are entrusting to these professionals, and we would like to ensure that the appropriate training and tools are available to those that are taking on these roles. I believe a standardization of the profession, nationwide, would improve the insurance industry’s ability to support the Pilot Car industry as well. An endorsement would address all of the enforcement challenges that we share as well. Without a universal certification database, our law enforcement partners have a much greater challenge of enforcing the regulations of the program.” — Craig Hurst

Expert Insights from Michelle Kind at the Evergreen Safety Council

Q: What should carriers and brokers know about certification validity and training?

“The physical and digital images of the certification card are not the final measure of validity. Certifications are now validated by comparing your card information with a list of valid certifications, and if your certification information is not on the list, you may get caught with a fraudulent card.” — Michelle Kind

“The safety training you get in a certification class is important for your own business, the safety of the public, and the safety of your team. Ultimately it can hurt everyone when people don’t get the safety training and aren’t really certified.” — Michelle Kind

“If we were to give one piece of advice, it would be that if getting a certification only takes a phone call and a fee, you’re probably purchasing a fraudulent cert.” — Michelle Kind

Key Takeaways

• Fraudulent certifications are a growing threat—they can halt operations mid-route, trigger litigation, and damage industry credibility.
• Verification matters: A card image alone is not proof. Always cross-check against official certification lists.
• Training is critical: Proper certification ensures safety for your team, the public, and your business.
• Watch for red flags: If certification seems too easy, it’s likely fraudulent.
• Industry needs standardization: A national endorsement and centralized database would simplify enforcement and improve safety.

Acknowledgment

A special thank you to Craig Hurst, Manager of Colorado’s Freight Mobility & Safety Branch, and Michelle Kind, President and Executive Director of Evergreen Safety Council, for generously sharing their expertise and insights. Their commitment to safety and integrity in the specialized transportation and pilot car industry is invaluable as we work to address this growing challenge.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive industry relevant news direct to your inbox!

Make sure to like/follow our social media pages   for up to date information on industry changes, closings, restrictions, and all things permitting.