How to Plan, Organize, and Execute a Convoy

You've probably seen a line of military vehicles on the highways in America.

This, my friends is a convoy.

Convoys are used in the military to transport personnel and equipment over long distances. When you do this in a convoy, each vehicle is supported.

Convoys may look like a group of cars following each other but there is a lot more planning and preparation involved to make sure everyone gets there safely, on schedule, and all together.

Many civilians participate in convoys. You've probably been in a convoy if you've ever taken a large camping trip that required several vehicles to travel together to reach the destination. In my Boy Scouting years, I drove many convoys with our troop from Oklahoma to Colorado. My 13-year old brain picked up on the fact that adults called our vehicle caravan a "convoy," and designated a leader. But I didn't pay much attention to the way the entire thing went down.

After I became a youth leader, I began taking my own boys camping. It was then that I realized how useful it would be to know some tips for planning, organizing, and executing a convoy. Harrison Anderson, an ex-Green Beret with 12 years active service in the Army told me how to do it.

What I learned

Pre-Departure Briefing : The Foundation for Success

A thorough briefing is necessary before the wheels touch the ground. This pre-departure meeting should be attended by the convoy leaders, truck captains (see below) and drivers. This is what you should expect to cover:

Establishing the Chain of Command

Harrison suggests the following chain of commands for your convoy.

Convoy leader. Convoy leader. His job is to oversee the planning and execution of the convoy, ensure the safety of everyone in it, and make navigation decisions like route adjustments.Second-in-command (2IC). Second-in-command (2IC) should be seated in the last vehicle of a convoy. He is responsible for supporting the convoy leader with his duties. The 2IC is positioned at one end of the convoy to monitor the length and address any issues that may arise, such as when a vehicle gets a flat. Harrison told me that the 2IC also monitors the weather, and alerts the convoy leader to any adverse conditions which could impact the safety of the convoy. Truck commander (TC). Truck commander (TC). Each vehicle should have a truck leader who sits behind the driver. It is the TC's responsibility to keep the convoy leader informed of any updates and coordinate the convoy. For safety reasons, drivers should not handle communications.

Vehicle Inspections

Convoy leaders must check with drivers that their vehicles are fully fueled, and that tire pressure is set at a safe amount. Harrison will also check that drivers have a fully inflated spare tire, and a functioning jack for if they ever get a flat. Check that drivers have enough supplies for an emergency, such as being stranded far from civilization. Check out our article about what every man needs to keep in their car.

Communication Check

The next part of the pre-departure meeting should be the "comms review." Communication is key to a successful convoy. This allows adjustments to be made quickly while still ensuring that the convoy remains together.

Communication will again be handled by the truck commanders.

Harrison suggests that you check the following radio items:

Everyone has backup batteries and radios.

Establish a group chat if you don't use radios. To ensure that everyone can send and receive messages, the convoy leader will send a message to each of the truck commanders.

The convoy leader should ensure that all truck commanders are aware of the convoy's cell phone number after establishing the group chat.