Oversize Load Escort & Route Survey Company
TRUKLYFE
PILOTS & ESCORTS

We put eyes on the road before you ever roll. From live field route surveys to hi-pole lead operations, front escort to rear chase — we run the whole operation so your load gets there clean.

WITPAC Certified
Florida P/EVO Certified
Class A CDL
Cert. Route Surveyor TRS201910-21
Hi-Pole Lead Operator
Clear the WayStay AlertSave LivesGet Home SafeNo ExcusesNo ShortcutsJust Safe Deliveries Clear the WayStay AlertSave LivesGet Home SafeNo ExcusesNo ShortcutsJust Safe Deliveries
🛣️
Route Surveys
Live field verified
🚗
Lead Escort
We run point
🔒
Chase / Rear
We hold the back
📡
Hi-Pole Ops
Clearance verified
💰
Rates
Transparent pricing
📋
Book Now
Get a quote today
Owner & Operator
Eric Franklin
Professional Oversize Load Escort & Route Survey Specialist

I didn't get into this business behind a desk. I came up through 22 years of truck driving — 15 of those running heavy haul. I know what it's like to be behind the wheel watching your pilot car ahead of you. I know what you need from that escort, and I know what happens when they get it wrong.

After years of dispatching and working some of the most complex oversized corridors in the country, I retired from driving and built TrukLyfe from the ground up. When TrukLyfe's name is on your move, you've got a certified route surveyor, a hi-pole operator, and someone who's been on both sides of this operation standing behind every mile.

22
Years in Trucking
15
Years Heavy Haul
12+
States Covered
0
Shortcuts. Ever.
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ TrukLyfe Service

Route
Surveys

Every mile field-verified. Every hazard flagged. No desk surveys. No guesswork.

Why TrukLyfe Route Surveys Are the Standard

There are surveyors who pull up Google Maps, print a route, and hand it to the driver. That's not a survey. That's a liability. At TrukLyfe, every survey is a live, in-person, hi-pole physical survey. I drive every mile of that route before your load ever moves.

With 22 years of truck driving experience and 15 years running heavy haul, I know what a driver needs to see in a survey document — because I've been that driver. I know what a 3-inch clearance feels like at 5am in the rain. I know what a skinny bridge does to a 16-foot wide load if nobody called it out. I know what's at stake when that survey is wrong.

Every TrukLyfe survey documents overhead clearances to the inch, bridge conditions, railroad crossings, canopy hazards, skinny bridges, no-shoulder stretches, mandatory detours, and recommended staging points — with cumulative mileage, hazard flags, and field-verified data from the actual road. Not a satellite image. The road.

🛣️
Live Field Survey
Every route is physically driven with a hi-pole set to your load height plus 6 inches. If the pole touches it, the load won't clear it — and we catch it before you do.
📏
Inch-by-Inch Clearances
We don't estimate. Every overhead obstruction is measured and documented — power lines, fiber optic, signal wires, bridge underclearances, everything.
🚂
Railroad Crossing Docs
Every railroad crossing on the route is identified, classified, and documented — flush crossings, angle crossings, active lines. All of it in the report.
🌉
Bridge & Narrow Analysis
Skinny bridges, low-weight bridges, long bridges with no shoulder — each one gets its own notation with recommended crossing procedure and traffic control protocol.
🅿️
Staging & Pull-Off Points
We identify every usable pull-off, fuel stop, and staging area along the route so the driver always has a plan for where to stop, check the load, and take a break safely.
📋
DOT-Compliant Documentation
Full survey reports formatted for permit submission, carrier review, and driver use — lead/chase packets and bilingual driver cards available on every job.
Sample Documents
Redacted Survey Examples
Customer information removed. This is the actual format and depth of every TrukLyfe survey package.
ROUTE SURVEY — US 82 CORRIDOR — MISSISSIPPI
High Pole Physical Survey — Full Detail Edition
Carrier:██████████████
Load Height Reference:15'10″ – 16'9″
Corridor:US 82, US 49 West, MS-12, US 49 East
Field-Surveyed Length:211.0 cumulative miles
Survey Type:High Pole Physical Survey
Hi-Pole Setting:6″ over load height
Surveyor:Eric Franklin, TrukLyfe Pilots & Escorts
✔ GOOD / CLEAR⚠ CAUTION⚠ CRITICAL■ PULL-OFF / STOP POINT
MILE 1.7Exit 2 mandatory — load cannot clear bridge. Exit and cross over to rejoin US 82.
MILE 2.2Bridge clearance approximately 3 inches over load height. Lower trailer to lowest deck setting.
MILE 6.0Skinny bridge. Normal shoulder right, no shoulder left. Ride the zipper through.
MILE ~9.0■ Wide shoulder — early load check, strap/chain check, brake check before skinny bridges ahead.
MILE ~15.0■ Confirmed fuel stop — lot wide enough for oversize loads. Driver break, brake check, visual load check.
MILE ~16–18⚠ CRITICAL LOW BRIDGE — Cannot clear. Mandatory US 61 South detour. Do not attempt.
MILE ~95.0■ Full load check — deck height, chains, hi-pole clearance bar — before utility stretch ahead.
MILE 139.5⚠ Utility line — approximately 2 inches of clearance.
MILE 143.1⚠ TIGHTEST POINT — Utility line approximately 1 inch of clearance. Critical crossing.
MILE 165.3⚠ Mattress Trace Bridge — 1 to 2 inches clearance. Lower trailer fully. Caution. Caution. Caution.
MILE 205–206⚠ Exit 45 South mandatory — low bridge will not clear load. Use ramp bypass.
MILE 211.0⚠ Long skinny bridge — shut traffic down completely. Maintain lane control through crossing.
MOST RESTRICTIVE CLEARANCES
MileFeatureClearance
143.1Utility line1 inch ⚠
165.3Mattress Trace Bridge1–2 inches ⚠
139.5Utility line2 inches ⚠
89.0Utility line3 inches ⚠
2.2Bridge~3 inches ⚠
Eric FranklinEric Franklin — Certifying Surveyor
TrukLyfe Pilots & Escorts · 504-457-1686 · Eric@truklyfe.com
CLEAR THE WAY • STAY ALERT • SAVE LIVES • GET HOME SAFE
PILOT & ESCORT FIELD CARD — LEAD PILOT
Carrier:██████████████
Load Description:████████████████████
Width / Length / Height:16 ft 4 in / 75 ft / 13 ft 6 in
Gross Weight:80,000 lbs
Route:I-75 SB → I-640 E → I-40 E → I-81 NB
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
• You are out FRONT — you see it first, you call it back to the truck and rear escort.
• Radio the truck before every construction zone, grade change, or lane reduction.
• Clear every on-ramp and merge zone before waving the truck through.
• Maintain visual or radio contact with the truck at all times.
• Speed — never exceed posted permit speed. Set the pace, the truck follows you.
ROUTE NOTES
I-75 SB MM ~155→134Long mountain downhill. Trailer pushes hard. Control speed, right lane.
I-75→I-640 RampConcrete barrier left side. 16-4 wide. Stay hard right, take it slow.
I-40 E MM ~340–363Extended construction corridor. Closed shoulders, jersey walls, mobile equipment.
Balance of Route✔ Open, right lane, no overhead restrictions. Clear on survey.
EXIT 69 — MANDATORYTake OFF-RAMP per DOT. Around bridge on surface road. Back on via ON-RAMP. Stage MM 65–67 — all pilots radio-confirm before truck moves.
Eric FranklinTrukLyfe LLC · 504-457-1686 · Eric@truklyfe.com
CLEAR THE WAY • STAY ALERT • SAVE LIVES • GET HOME SAFE
PILOT & ESCORT FIELD CARD — CHASE CAR / REAR ESCORT
Carrier:██████████████
Load Description:████████████████████
Width / Length / Height:16 ft 4 in / 75 ft / 13 ft 6 in
Route:I-75 SB → I-640 E → I-40 E → I-81 NB
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
• You are BEHIND the load — you protect the truck's rear and block traffic.
• Maintain safe following distance — enough to see the load, close enough to block.
• Activate amber lights and OVERSIZE LOAD sign at all times while escorting.
• Block traffic from passing the load in construction zones and lane reductions.
• Radio the front escort immediately if you see anything wrong.
• Do not leave your position until the truck is safely back on the main lane.
ROUTE NOTES
I-75 SB MM ~155→134Long mountain downhill. Trailer pushes hard. Stay back, control spacing.
I-75→I-640 RampConcrete barrier left side. Stay tight behind the truck.
I-40 E MM ~340–363Extended construction. Block aggressively. No passing through this stretch.
Balance of Route✔ Open, right lane, no overhead restrictions. Clear on survey.
EXIT 69 — MANDATORYStay on load through off-ramp. Block on-ramp traffic while truck re-enters I-81 NB. Do not move until truck is clear.
Eric FranklinTrukLyfe LLC · 504-457-1686 · Eric@truklyfe.com
CLEAR THE WAY • STAY ALERT • SAVE LIVES • GET HOME SAFE
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ TrukLyfe Service

Lead / Front
Escort

We run point. We clear the path. The load follows our lead — literally.

Why Our Lead Operation Is Different

The lead pilot car is the most important vehicle in the convoy. Everything starts with the lead. The pace, the communication, the lane positioning, the intersection clearance — all of it flows from the front. Get a weak lead and the whole move falls apart.

I've been on both sides of that windshield. 22 years behind the wheel of a truck, watching pilot cars ahead of me — good ones and bad ones. I know exactly what a driver needs to see from that lead car. I know when to hold up, when to push, when to call it back, and when to shut it down. That experience doesn't come from a certification class. It comes from the road.

When TrukLyfe runs lead on your move, you've got a WITPAC-certified, Florida P/EVO-certified, Class A CDL operator setting the pace. We coordinate with law enforcement, clear every intersection before the load reaches it, call back every construction zone, grade change, and lane reduction — and we never exceed permit speed. The truck follows us. We take that seriously.

🚦
Intersection Control
We clear every intersection before the load enters it. No exceptions. Traffic gets held, the load moves clean.
📻
Constant Radio Comms
The driver hears from us before every construction zone, grade change, lane shift, and problem area. No surprises.
🏗️
Construction Zone Management
We pre-scout every construction zone, coordinate with flaggers, and get the truck through without incident.
⚖️
Permit Speed Compliance
We set the pace. Never exceed posted permit speed. We run legal, professional, and documented on every move.
👮
Law Enforcement Coordination
We work directly with state troopers and local law enforcement to coordinate escorts, rolling blocks, and permit compliance.
🗺️
Route Knowledge
We've either surveyed this route ourselves or we've reviewed the survey thoroughly before the first wheel turns. We know what's coming.
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ TrukLyfe Service

Chase /
Rear Escort

We hold the back. Nothing comes up on that trailer without us knowing it and handling it.

Why the Chase Car Matters More Than People Think

Most people think the lead car does all the work. The chase car is just as critical. The rear escort is the last line of defense for that load. We control following traffic, signal every lane change, block aggressive drivers, and protect the truck's blind side the entire move.

A bad chase car is worse than no chase car. If your rear escort isn't maintaining position, isn't blocking properly, and isn't communicating — you've got a vulnerability behind 80,000 pounds of freight moving down the highway. That's when incidents happen.

TrukLyfe chase operations are run with the same discipline as the lead. Amber lights and OVERSIZE LOAD sign on at all times. Proper following distance maintained. Radio checks confirmed. We don't drift back, we don't let cars slide through, and we don't leave our position until that truck is safely on the main lane and clear. Every single time.

🔒
Rear Protection
We maintain our position behind the load at all times — close enough to block, far enough to see the whole picture.
🚧
Traffic Blocking
Construction zones, lane reductions, merge points — we block aggressively so nothing sneaks past the load.
📻
Load Monitoring
We're watching the load from behind. Strap shift, debris strike, tire issue — we see it and call it before the driver knows.
↔️
Lane Change Signals
Every lane change is signaled and coordinated with the lead before the truck moves. Clean, professional, by the book.
🛑
Ramp & Exit Control
At mandatory exits and off-ramps, we hold traffic on the on-ramp until the truck is clear and back on the main lane.
✅
Position Discipline
We don't leave our position early. We don't drift. We stay locked in until the convoy is clear and the driver is safe.
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ TrukLyfe Service

Hi-Pole
Operations

If the pole touches it, the load doesn't clear it. We find out first — so you don't find out the hard way.

Why Hi-Pole Operations Require the Right Operator

Running a hi-pole isn't just bolting a pole to the roof of a truck. It's a constant real-time clearance verification system, and the operator has to know how to read it, react to it, and communicate what it's telling them — instantly, accurately, every time.

For loads exceeding 15'6" in height, a hi-pole is not optional — it's the difference between a load that moves and a load that takes down a power line, a signal system, or a utility crossing. I've surveyed routes where the clearance was 1 inch. One inch. At those tolerances, you need an operator who has been doing this long enough to feel the difference between contact and close.

TrukLyfe hi-pole operations include utility height verification, route hazard reporting, height stick monitoring, and overhead clearance alerting — all in real time, all communicated directly to the driver before the load reaches each crossing. We don't call it after contact. We call it before.

📡
Real-Time Clearance
The hi-pole runs ahead of the load and physically contacts any overhead obstruction before the load reaches it. No guessing.
⚡
Utility Verification
Power lines, fiber optic, signal wires, communication lines — every overhead utility is verified at your load height before you pass under it.
📢
Instant Alert System
Contact on the pole means a immediate radio call to the driver. The load stops before it reaches the obstruction. Every time.
🌉
Bridge Underclearance
Bridge deck underclearances are verified in motion before the load commits to the crossing. No surprises under steel.
📋
Hazard Documentation
Every hi-pole contact point is logged and reported in the survey document — mile, feature, clearance measurement, and recommended action.
🏆
Recommended for 15'6"+ Loads
Any load exceeding 15 feet 6 inches in height should run with a hi-pole operator. Below that threshold, we still recommend it on unknown corridors.
• Get Home Safe
Fleet & Field Work
Our Trucks.
Our Loads. Our Work.

Real jobs, real roads, real loads. This is what TrukLyfe looks like in the field.

Jeep hi-pole
Jeep Wrangler — Hi-Pole Ready
Chase car and hi-pole escort staged and ready to roll
Jeep front
Chase Car — Front View
OVERSIZE LOAD banner and hi-pole up — locked and loaded
Full fleet
The Full Fleet On Site
Colorado (Lead) & Jeep (Chase) staged with the load
Three loads
Multi-Load Operation
Three oversize loads staged — full convoy escort
Tank load crane
Superload — Tank Operation
Heavy lift crane — oversized tank load ready for transport
State trooper escort
Full Law Enforcement Escort
State troopers running point — rain doesn't stop the job
Railroad crossing
Railroad Crossing — Field Survey
Hi-pole verification at a railroad crossing
Heavy haul load
Heavy Haul — Flatbed Operation
Oversized flatbed staged during a multi-state move
📸
More Photos Coming Soon
Always adding to the collection
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
Transparent Pricing
Pilot Car Escort
Rate Sheet

Competitive rates. Professional service. Tap any service to see full details.

Pilot Car Escort Services
Lead / Front Escort$550 / DAY▼

Escort vehicle in front of the load. Clears intersections, coordinates with law enforcement, manages traffic.

$1.83 / Mile300 Mile Minimum
Rear / Chase Escort$550 / DAY▼

Escort vehicle behind the load. Controls following traffic, signals lane changes, protects the rear.

$1.83 / Mile300 Mile Minimum
Hi-Pole Escort$700 / DAY▼

High pole vehicle verifies overhead clearance in real time. Recommended for loads exceeding 15'6" in height.

$2.33 / Mile300 Mile MinimumRecommended 15'6"+ Loads
Overnight Stay$125 / NIGHT▼

Per night overnight fee for multi-day moves.

Weekend / Holiday+10% Surcharge▼

Friday 6PM through Sunday 11:59PM and major holidays.

High Pole Services
Standard High Pole Escort$700 / DAY
Utility Height VerificationIncluded
Route Hazard ReportingIncluded
Height Stick MonitoringIncluded
Overhead Clearance AlertingIncluded
Route Survey Services
Physical Route Survey — Day Rate$750 / DAY
Physical Route Survey — Per Mile$2.50 / MILE
Overhead Clearance ReportIncluded
Railroad Crossing DocumentationIncluded
Bridge & Narrow Area AnalysisIncluded
DOT-Compliant DocumentationIncluded
Included With Every Escort
✔ DOT Compliant Drivers ✔ Commercial Insurance ✔ Safety Equipment & Lighting ✔ Oversize Load Communication ✔ Real-Time Route Monitoring ✔ Professional Customer Service
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
Get Moving
Book TrukLyfe.
Let's Roll.

Single job, multi-state move, or dedicated contract — reach out direct. We respond fast.

📞
Call or Text
504-457-1686
✉
Email
Eric@truklyfe.com
📍
Base of Operations
Slidell, Louisiana 70461
Single Job Booking
Need escort or survey on a specific move? Call or email with your load specs and corridor — quote same day.
Dedicated Contract
Running regular OS/OW freight? Ask about dedicated contract pricing. Volume discounts available.
Request a Quote
Clicking Send opens your email app with your info pre-loaded. We respond within the hour during business hours.
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ Our Story

About
TrukLyfe

Built from the road up. Earned mile by mile.

The Why
Why Eric Built TrukLyfe
Eric Franklin
Owner & Operator

"I started TrukLyfe because I got tired. Tired of being overlooked by people who knew less than me. Tired of working for companies that couldn't take me where I needed to go. Tired of being mediocre when I knew I had more in me.

22 years behind the wheel. 15 years running heavy haul. I know this industry from the ground up — not from a classroom, not from a desk. From the road. From 4am pre-trips, from skinny bridges in the rain, from corridors that would make most people turn around.

I didn't build TrukLyfe to get rich. I built it because I refuse to leave this earth without my kids being able to say their father built something. Something real. Something that stands on its own. Something they can be proud of.

That's TrukLyfe. That's why we don't cut corners. That's why every survey is field-verified, every escort is professional, and every move gets our full attention. Because this isn't just a business. This is my legacy."

The Heart
From The Franklin Family
The Franklin Family

"We watched him come home frustrated. We watched him work harder than anyone around him and still get passed over. We watched him carry it without complaining — because that's who he is.

But we also watched him make a decision. A decision that he wasn't going to spend the rest of his life building someone else's dream while his own sat on the shelf.

TrukLyfe didn't just change his life. It changed ours. We ride with him — literally and figuratively. This company has our name on it just as much as his. And we show up every day to make sure it represents everything he sacrificed to build it.

We don't just support TrukLyfe. We are TrukLyfe."

The How
The Come Up
Eric Franklin
In His Own Words

"Nobody handed me this. I studied the game the right way — working alongside real pilots, experienced operators who had been doing this for years. I paid out of my own pocket to train with multiple pilots before I ever put an OVERSIZE LOAD banner on a bumper.

I didn't just jump in. I understood the game first.

I started with an SUV. Just me, a sign, and everything I had learned from the road. Then came the pickup truck. Then the hi-pole setup. Then the Colorado. Then the Jeep. Every upgrade was earned — not financed on a dream, but built on the revenue from the last job.

I studied for my WITPAC certification. My Florida P/EVO. My route surveyor credentials. Every piece of paper I carry, I earned it. And while I was earning it, I was out on the road with pilots who had been doing this for decades — watching, asking questions, absorbing everything I could.

Most people see the trucks and the loads. They don't see the years of preparation that came before the first move. They don't see the money spent training before any money came in. They don't see the studying, the sacrifice, the learning curve.

That's the part that made TrukLyfe what it is today."

Certifications & Credentials
✔
WITPAC Certified Pilot Car Operator
✔
Florida P/EVO Certified
✔
Class A CDL
✔
Certified Route Surveyor — TRS201910-21
✔
Hi-Pole Lead Operator
✔
22 Years Commercial Truck Driving
✔
15 Years Heavy Haul Specialist
✔
Multi-State Escort & Dispatch Experience
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ Giving Back

TrukLyfe
Philanthropy

We built something. Now we give back. Because the next generation deserves a shot too.

Our Commitment
Supporting Our Community

TrukLyfe was built from nothing — hard work, sacrifice, and people who believed in us along the way. We haven't forgotten that. Part of what we do now is invest back into the communities we travel through and the kids who are out there grinding just like we did.

If you represent a youth sports team, a school program, or a community organization that needs a sponsor — reach out. We consider every application personally. No corporate committees. No bureaucracy. Just real people looking to help real teams.

Who We Support
⚽
Youth Sports Teams
Football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track — if your team is working hard and needs support for uniforms, equipment, or entry fees, we want to hear from you.
🎓
School Programs
Academic programs, STEM initiatives, vocational training, and extracurricular activities that give kids tools for life — we support education at every level.
🏆
Community Organizations
Non-profits, community centers, and organizations doing real work to uplift families and neighborhoods. If you're building something for the community, we want to be part of it.
🚘
Transportation & Trade Programs
Young people interested in trucking, logistics, and the transportation industry — we're especially passionate about supporting the next generation of drivers and operators.
Apply for Sponsorship
Fill out the form below and we will review your application personally. We respond to every request.
Your request goes directly to Eric Franklin for personal review. We respond to every application.
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe
★ TrukLyfe Store

Merch
Store

TrukLyfe gear is coming. Rep the brand that runs the road.

🕒
Coming Soon
We're building out the TrukLyfe store. Check back soon for shirts, hats, and gear.
👕
TrukLyfe Tee
Black & White — Coming Soon
COMING SOON
🦋
TrukLyfe Hat
Snapback — Coming Soon
COMING SOON
👕
Pilot Car Hoodie
Red & Black — Coming Soon
COMING SOON
👕
Escort Life Tee
Limited Edition — Coming Soon
COMING SOON
Get Notified When We Drop
Clear the Way • Stay Alert • Save Lives • Get Home Safe