Order a convoy with a scout first, the lightest and fastest vehicles next, the heaviest vehicles in the middle and a maintenance wagon last, with 50-100 m between vehicles and whistle and wave signals agreed before departure. At 5 km/h a 50-100 m gap gives a following driver 36-72 seconds to react to trouble ahead. The lead vehicle sets the pace, and the maintenance wagon picks up whatever drops.
Part of Logistics & Load Planning
The order of march, spacing, signals and security of a group of vehicles and animals travelling together.
Each Position In The Line Has A Reason
The parent article gives the order of march. The scout or lead rider checks the route ahead and finds problems before the convoy arrives. The fastest and lightest vehicles go first, because if the lead vehicle gets stuck, a light cart is easier to clear than a heavy wagon. The heaviest vehicles go in the middle, protected from both ends, on the most-travelled and best-compacted part of the track. The maintenance wagon goes last, with spare parts, tools and extra feed, and picks up anything dropped.
Spacing is 50-100 m between vehicles on roads, which keeps dust from blinding following drivers and leaves room to stop if the vehicle ahead has trouble. Signals are simple: a whistle for stop, two whistles for proceed, waving for trouble. The lead vehicle sets the pace.
What You Need
- A roster — who drives each vehicle, who scouts, who rides rear.
- Whistles or other agreed signals.
- A maintenance wagon with spare wheels and axles, rope, tools and feed. See Convoy Planning.
- A watch system for halts, so animals and loads are always attended.
Method: Form And Run The Convoy
Step 1: Assign positions Scout, light vehicles, heavy vehicles, maintenance wagon.
Step 2: Rehearse the signals Practise stop, proceed and trouble before leaving.
Step 3: Hold the gap Drivers keep 50-100 m and close up only at halts.
Step 4: Relay information The scout reports to the lead; the lead signals the rest.
Step 5: Keep watch at halts Never leave animals, loads or vehicles unattended.
Worked Example: Gap Against Reaction Time
Inputs: speed 5 km/h = 5 / 3.6 = 1.39 m/s; gap 50 m to 100 m.
- Time to cover the gap: 50 / 1.39 = 36 s; 100 / 1.39 = 72 s.
- If a convoy speeds up to 10 km/h (2.78 m/s) on a downhill run, the same 50 m gives 50 / 2.78 = 18 s, half the warning.
- Signal range: a 100 m gap between vehicles in a line of 8 spans 732 m (see Convoy Planning), so a whistle from the lead may not reach the rear. Each driver relays the signal to the next.
The rear driver of a 732 m line sees a signal relayed by 7 drivers; if each takes 5 seconds to respond (an assumption), the stop signal takes 7 × 5 = 35 s to reach the end, in which a convoy at 1.39 m/s moves 49 m. Stopping needs the relays to be quick or the gaps wide enough to absorb the delay.
Common Mistakes
- Putting the heaviest vehicle first — if it sticks, it blocks everyone.
- Closing up on descents — brakes fail and carts overrun. Keep the gap.
- No signal practice — drivers confuse the signals when it matters.
- Leaving the rear unguarded — the maintenance wagon needs a watcher.
- No plan for security — agree who watches at halts and what to do if a vehicle is cut off.
Safety
Pile-ups on slopes and at halts
A cart that stops suddenly on a slope can be hit by the one behind. Increase the gap on descents, stop on level ground, and chock wheels at every halt on a slope.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Rest Stops & Staging Areas — where the convoy stops
- Combine with: Timing & Daily Schedule — the daily rhythm