Oversized Load Escorts
Oversized Load Escorts
[Topic posted in ETS. Repeated here in ATS because at some point in time it will affect ATS]
Observations on the use of escorts in ETS's new Special Transport DLC.
I drove a pole car (front escort) for oversized loads for over eight years, and as part of the team, I participated in the delivery of over 600 big loads throughout the United States.
I was responsible for on-road escorting, trip surveying and planning, routing, and trucking company, police and state officials coordination. I was a member of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, and for a time, I ran my own oversized load escort company.
I tell you all of this simply to establish that I know a little something about escorting oversized loads.
My initial response to the new release of Special Transport DLC is that it is a fine piece of work. It represents the best of moving big loads, and it even brings back some fine, and not-so-fine, memories.
I have one suggestion for SCS, however, and I think it could be easily changed to better represent real-world escorting.
The front escort isn't part of escorting the load. Now before your mind goes nuts regarding that statement let me explain. Obviously the front escort is an integral and immediate part of the load moving process.
However, although the front escort is usually in close proximity to the load while traveling city streets, the front escort is of best use to the truck driver by being way out in front of the load while on two-lane roads and highways. The purpose of the front escort is to warn the truck driver, by radio, of upcoming obstacles and hazards way-in-advance of the load's arrival at any given point along the roadway. At the same time, being a good distance from the load also gives oncoming traffic more advanced warning that a big load is coming their way.
The front escort is of little use if it doesn't have enough time (distance between the escort vehicle and the load) to warn of such hazards. So the front escort vehicle is continually moving towards and away from the load depending on the road circumstances.
(By the way... I've seen this situation of the front escort being too close to the load many times while observing loads moving in real-life situations. If the front escort is too close, he or she is actually, in my opinion, putting the load at extreme risk. The escort vehicle can itself wind up being a hazard to the load.)
Anyway... I've written all of this simply to suggest that SCS have the front escort run at least three or four more lengths in front of the load WHILE ON HIGHWAYS.
And just for added realism, add a height pole to the front escort, and have the escort vehicle flashing lights be even brighter.
All in all SCS has done a fine job in representing Special Transport, and I really look forward to it coming to ATS.
PS. I forgot to mention... The front escort does NOT set the pace/speed of the parade. The front escort continually monitors his or hers position in relation to the load, and adjusts his or hers position accordingly. The truck driver establishes the pace/speed along the roadway.
And To Further Add To The Realism Of Moving A Big, Oversized Load...
Show the police escort(s) (one or two, depending on the size of the load) required by most states. I'm not talking about the police vehicles which are presently blocking the side streets/roads. I'm talking about the police escorts that are part of the procession.
Usually you have:
1st - the front escort - way out in front
2nd - the front police escort - in front of the load
3rd - the load
4th - the rear escort
5th - the rear police escort
I bet that would be an SCS programming nightmare! LOL
Observations on the use of escorts in ETS's new Special Transport DLC.
I drove a pole car (front escort) for oversized loads for over eight years, and as part of the team, I participated in the delivery of over 600 big loads throughout the United States.
I was responsible for on-road escorting, trip surveying and planning, routing, and trucking company, police and state officials coordination. I was a member of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, and for a time, I ran my own oversized load escort company.
I tell you all of this simply to establish that I know a little something about escorting oversized loads.
My initial response to the new release of Special Transport DLC is that it is a fine piece of work. It represents the best of moving big loads, and it even brings back some fine, and not-so-fine, memories.
I have one suggestion for SCS, however, and I think it could be easily changed to better represent real-world escorting.
The front escort isn't part of escorting the load. Now before your mind goes nuts regarding that statement let me explain. Obviously the front escort is an integral and immediate part of the load moving process.
However, although the front escort is usually in close proximity to the load while traveling city streets, the front escort is of best use to the truck driver by being way out in front of the load while on two-lane roads and highways. The purpose of the front escort is to warn the truck driver, by radio, of upcoming obstacles and hazards way-in-advance of the load's arrival at any given point along the roadway. At the same time, being a good distance from the load also gives oncoming traffic more advanced warning that a big load is coming their way.
The front escort is of little use if it doesn't have enough time (distance between the escort vehicle and the load) to warn of such hazards. So the front escort vehicle is continually moving towards and away from the load depending on the road circumstances.
(By the way... I've seen this situation of the front escort being too close to the load many times while observing loads moving in real-life situations. If the front escort is too close, he or she is actually, in my opinion, putting the load at extreme risk. The escort vehicle can itself wind up being a hazard to the load.)
Anyway... I've written all of this simply to suggest that SCS have the front escort run at least three or four more lengths in front of the load WHILE ON HIGHWAYS.
And just for added realism, add a height pole to the front escort, and have the escort vehicle flashing lights be even brighter.
All in all SCS has done a fine job in representing Special Transport, and I really look forward to it coming to ATS.
PS. I forgot to mention... The front escort does NOT set the pace/speed of the parade. The front escort continually monitors his or hers position in relation to the load, and adjusts his or hers position accordingly. The truck driver establishes the pace/speed along the roadway.
And To Further Add To The Realism Of Moving A Big, Oversized Load...
Show the police escort(s) (one or two, depending on the size of the load) required by most states. I'm not talking about the police vehicles which are presently blocking the side streets/roads. I'm talking about the police escorts that are part of the procession.
Usually you have:
1st - the front escort - way out in front
2nd - the front police escort - in front of the load
3rd - the load
4th - the rear escort
5th - the rear police escort
I bet that would be an SCS programming nightmare! LOL
Last edited by iOutlaw on 17 Dec 2017 10:37, edited 2 times in total.
- Frontiersman
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Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Thanks for sharing that!
Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Interesting read
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Re: Oversized Load Escorts
That is really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Appreciative read for sure. We can only hope ATS gets ST. From watching the ST videos as of late in ETS2, I would agree that the escort is way too close. Too many times I have seen the front escort come to a complete stop to wait for the rear end escort. This would put the load in danger so I see what you mean. When the driver has to slam on his/her brakes when going up a hwy ramp, or any place for that matter, that is not a good enough warning for the driver on a blind approach. At least block the traffic coming up on the truck's rear so that he/she can get on the highway. Once on, the escort could retake the lead. ST looks cool and all but it could use better blocking methods as real life would actually do. What SCS has done will work for this game but it could be perfected a bit more. One thing that should happen from watching these videos is that the police, should all be fired. They really are not blocking off crap, lol. I assume SCS has programmed the AI that if a ST mission is in progress, then the AI traffic will halt at all police and/or flashing lights display no matter where they are on the road. The police are pulled over on the shoulder and parallel to traffic instead of parked perpendicular to traffic. If random events can block off roads ST can have it done as well. A ST is basically an event itself.
My post are only thoughts and ideas. Don't assume it makes ATS.
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- TruckSimChris
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Re: Oversized Load Escorts
@iOutlaw
Thanks for sharing. Very informational.
Hope SCS considers your advice.
Thanks for sharing. Very informational.
Hope SCS considers your advice.
Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Actually that's how it is in ETS2, despite what you see in "some players" videos.
Front Escort goes with same speed with truck, leaving distance between truck and itself. It slows then when truck does, speeds up when trucks' speed up. Speed limitations are what let's say "trip surveying teams" decided and truck must obey not to pass over. It's people catching up with higher speeds and decide to go with 60 kmh because it writes 60 kmh in speed limits (That's 38 mph)
Only reason distance are kept short(er) compared to real is to prevent other AI to get in between. Because you know even it is intelligence, it is artificial
Front Escort goes with same speed with truck, leaving distance between truck and itself. It slows then when truck does, speeds up when trucks' speed up. Speed limitations are what let's say "trip surveying teams" decided and truck must obey not to pass over. It's people catching up with higher speeds and decide to go with 60 kmh because it writes 60 kmh in speed limits (That's 38 mph)
Only reason distance are kept short(er) compared to real is to prevent other AI to get in between. Because you know even it is intelligence, it is artificial
Re: Oversized Load Escorts
SISL, You are right. I've watched several other vids, and I see the front escort moving up to secure exit/entrance ramps etc. However, I stand by my suggestion that, in general, the front escort is running too close to the load while on 2 lanes & highways. Also, in real life it is not the front escorts job to make sure traffic does not come between itself and the load. Again, it is much more important that the driver be forewarned of hazards ahead than it is to deal with cars or trucks which may come between the front escort and the load. Now, again, you may be absolutely correct, that in the game, there may be a problem with AI traffic coming between the front escort and the load. I imagine it will take a bit more programing on SCS's part to achieve that kind of realism.
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Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Actually for European realia the escort's behavior is fairly realistic. In Europe front escort isn't allowed to leave the truck behind for safety reasons. If there's a need to check road hazards, remove some roadsigns, etc, there's usually an additional escort car. (Back in Poland we used to call them 'jumpers')
The smallest details always make the biggest difference.
Re: Oversized Load Escorts
Sounds like a fun job from my perspective. Just out of curiousity - does the oversized truck load make any turns? The American truck designs (especially the W900 whose length is like a small European bus) seem not to be meant for making any turns.
You probably know there were some oversized mods for ETS2 - some of which I tried in the past. To say getting one of those out of the company prefab and out of the city was a challenge would be an understatement. Considering how wide the highway ramps are in the game, it seems it won't be much more different with the Special Cargo DLC when it's released. They might as well include a demolition team with the escort cars who to clean up the way for the truck...
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