diff --git a/pilot/user/atlas/common.py b/pilot/user/atlas/common.py
index 4f114911..853b90ab 100644
--- a/pilot/user/atlas/common.py
+++ b/pilot/user/atlas/common.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import re
+import time
 
 from collections import defaultdict
 from functools import reduce
@@ -487,14 +488,17 @@ def get_nthreads(catchall: str) -> int:
     return _nthreads if _nthreads else 1
 
 
-def get_payload_command(job: JobData) -> str:
+def get_payload_command(job: JobData, args: object = None) -> str:
     """
     Return the full command for executing the payload, including the sourcing of all setup files and setting of environment variables.
 
     :param job: job object (JobData)
-    :return: command (str).
+    :param args: pilot arguments (object)
+    :return: command (str)
     :raises TrfDownloadFailure: in case of download failure.
     """
+    if not args:  # bypass pylint complaint
+        pass
     # Should the pilot do the setup or does jobPars already contain the information?
     preparesetup = should_pilot_prepare_setup(job.noexecstrcnv, job.jobparams)
 
@@ -515,6 +519,7 @@ def get_payload_command(job: JobData) -> str:
         exitcode = 0
         diagnostics = ""
 
+        t0 = time.time()
         try:
             exitcode, diagnostics, not_opened_turls, lsetup_time = open_remote_files(job.indata, job.workdir, get_nthreads(catchall))
         except Exception as exc:
@@ -532,6 +537,10 @@ def get_payload_command(job: JobData) -> str:
             else:
                 process_remote_file_traces(path, job, not_opened_turls)  # ignore PyCharm warning, path is str
 
+            t1 = time.time()
+            dt = int(t1 - t0)
+            logger.info(f'remote file verification finished in {dt} s')
+
             # fail the job if the remote files could not be verified
             if exitcode != 0:
                 job.piloterrorcodes, job.piloterrordiags = errors.add_error_code(exitcode, msg=diagnostics)
diff --git a/pilot/user/generic/common.py b/pilot/user/generic/common.py
index 3e2f312e..4c819e7e 100644
--- a/pilot/user/generic/common.py
+++ b/pilot/user/generic/common.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 from signal import SIGTERM
 
 from pilot.common.exception import TrfDownloadFailure
+from pilot.info.jobdata import JobData
 from pilot.util.config import config
 from pilot.util.constants import (
     UTILITY_BEFORE_PAYLOAD,
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ def validate(job: object) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-def get_payload_command(job: object) -> str:
+def get_payload_command(job: JobData, args: object = None) -> str:
     """
     Return the full command for executing the payload.
 
@@ -73,12 +74,15 @@ def get_payload_command(job: object) -> str:
     By default, the full payload command is assumed to be in the job.jobparams.
 
     :param job: job object (object)
+    :param args: pilot arguments (object)
     :return: command (str).
     """
     # Try to download the trf
     # if job.imagename != "" or "--containerImage" in job.jobparams:
     #    job.transformation = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(job.transformation), "runcontainer")
     #    logger.warning('overwrote job.transformation, now set to: %s' % job.transformation)
+    if not args:  # bypass pylint complaint
+        pass
     ec, diagnostics, trf_name = get_analysis_trf(job.transformation, job.workdir)
     if ec != 0:
         raise TrfDownloadFailure(diagnostics)
diff --git a/pilot/user/rubin/common.py b/pilot/user/rubin/common.py
index d83bed7d..0a853656 100644
--- a/pilot/user/rubin/common.py
+++ b/pilot/user/rubin/common.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from typing import Any
 
 from pilot.common.exception import TrfDownloadFailure
+from pilot.info.jobdata import JobData
 from pilot.util.config import config
 from pilot.util.constants import UTILITY_BEFORE_PAYLOAD, UTILITY_AFTER_PAYLOAD_STARTED
 from pilot.util.filehandling import read_file
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ def validate(job: Any) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-def get_payload_command(job: object):
+def get_payload_command(job: JobData, args: object = None):
     """
     Return the full command for executing the payload.
 
@@ -68,12 +69,15 @@ def get_payload_command(job: object):
     By default, the full payload command is assumed to be in the job.jobparams.
 
     :param job: job object (object)
+    :param args: pilot arguments (object)
     :return: command (str).
     """
     # Try to download the trf
     # if job.imagename != "" or "--containerImage" in job.jobparams:
     #    job.transformation = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(job.transformation), "runcontainer")
     #    logger.warning('overwrote job.transformation, now set to: %s' % job.transformation)
+    if not args:  # bypass pylint complaint
+        pass
     ec, diagnostics, trf_name = get_analysis_trf(job.transformation, job.workdir)
     if ec != 0:
         raise TrfDownloadFailure(diagnostics)
diff --git a/pilot/user/sphenix/common.py b/pilot/user/sphenix/common.py
index b4aa30ee..fff836bc 100644
--- a/pilot/user/sphenix/common.py
+++ b/pilot/user/sphenix/common.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     FileHandlingFailure
 )
 from pilot.info import FileSpec
+from pilot.info.jobdata import JobData
 from pilot.util.config import config
 from pilot.util.constants import (
     UTILITY_AFTER_PAYLOAD_FINISHED,
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ def validate(job: object) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
-def get_payload_command(job: object) -> str:
+def get_payload_command(job: JobData, args: object = None) -> str:
     """
     Return the full command for executing the payload.
 
@@ -84,12 +85,15 @@ def get_payload_command(job: object) -> str:
     By default, the full payload command is assumed to be in the job.jobparams.
 
     :param job: job object (object)
+    :param args: pilot arguments (object)
     :return: command (str).
     """
     # Try to download the trf
     # if job.imagename != "" or "--containerImage" in job.jobparams:
     #    job.transformation = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(job.transformation), "runcontainer")
     #    logger.warning('overwrote job.transformation, now set to: %s' % job.transformation)
+    if not args:  # to bypass pylint complaint
+        pass
     ec, diagnostics, trf_name = get_analysis_trf(job.transformation, job.workdir)
     if ec != 0:
         raise TrfDownloadFailure(diagnostics)
diff --git a/pilot/util/constants.py b/pilot/util/constants.py
index 58835e2c..9a1ed683 100644
--- a/pilot/util/constants.py
+++ b/pilot/util/constants.py
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@
 PILOT_POST_FINAL_UPDATE = 'PILOT_POST_FINAL_UPDATE'
 PILOT_END_TIME = 'PILOT_END_TIME'
 PILOT_KILL_SIGNAL = 'PILOT_KILL_SIGNAL'
+PILOT_PRE_REMOTEIO = 'PILOT_PRE_REMOTEIO'
+PILOT_POST_REMOTEIO = 'PILOT_POST_REMOTEIO'
 
 # Keep track of log transfers
 LOG_TRANSFER_NOT_DONE = 'NOT_DONE'