8-K

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 8, 2002

PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

State of Texas
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 2-70145
(Commission
File Number) 74-2088619
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

9310 Broadway, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices) 78217
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (210) 828-7689

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

        On August 9, 2002, Registrant furnished certifications to the Commission in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code). Copies of such certifications are furnished as exhibits to this Item 9 disclosure.

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: August 9, 2002	PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY
	By:	/s/  WM. STACY LOCKE Wm. Stacy Locke, President

QuickLinks

SIGNATURES

EX-99.1

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Certification Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

        Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), I, Wm. Stacy Locke, President and Chief Financial Officer of Pioneer Drilling Company, a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify, to my knowledge, that:

(1)    the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 8, 2002
/s/  WM. STACY LOCKE Wm. Stacy Locke
President and Chief Financial Officer

        The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

QuickLinks

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

EX-99.2

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Certification Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

        Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), I, Michael E. Little, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Drilling Company, a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify, to my knowledge, that:

(1)    the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 8, 2002
/s/  MICHAEL E. LITTLE Michael E. Little
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

        The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

QuickLinks

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)