Home / Heavy Haul FAQ / Pilot Car Requirements by State
Heavy Haul FAQ · Sourced from state DOTs
The width, height and length at which 17 states require a pilot car or escort, with the official source for each.
Last verified: against official state sources.
Short answer
There is no single national pilot car rule: each state sets its own escort triggers. In most of the West and Plains, the first pilot car is required somewhere between 12 and 16 ft wide, and the number depends on whether the road is two-lane or multilane.
The table
The table shows where escorts start and where the next step up applies. Route maps, curfews, superload permits and the permit itself can add requirements, and the permit always controls.
| State | First escort required | Next step up | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Set by route on ODOT Route Map 2: from 8 ft 7 in on Map 1 Blue (one) and Map 1 Red (two) two-lane routes; none on Interstates until over 14 ft | Over 14 ft 6 in high: front pilot with height pole, unless a liability declaration is on file | ODOT Route Map 2 Legend (PDF) |
| Washington | Over 11 ft: front and rear on two-lane highways | Over 14 ft: 1 rear on multilane; over 14 ft 6 in high: front with height pole | WAC 468-38-100 |
| Idaho | Set by route color on ITD's pilot/escort map; verify with the state for the width on your route | Over 16 ft high: lead pilot with height pole | IDAPA 39.03.01 (PDF) |
| California | May be required over 12 ft wide, 120 ft long or 17 ft high, by route color | CHP escort over 16 ft on Yellow routes, or over 15 ft on Green/Blue/Brown | Caltrans: Transportation Permits |
| Nevada | 12 ft 1 in: front pilot on 2-3 lane roads; none on 4-lane until 14 ft 1 in | Over 16 ft: front and rear on all roads; over 15 ft 6 in high: front with pole | NDOT: Pilot Car Guidelines |
| Arizona | Daylight thresholds set per permit (verify with the state); night/weekend over 11 ft: rear escort | Front/rear projection over 20 ft: escort on that end | 17 A.A.C. 6 (PDF) |
| Utah | Over 12 ft on secondary highways, over 14 ft on divided interstates: 1 pilot | Over 14 ft secondary / 16 ft divided: 2 pilots; police over 17 ft secondary or 20 ft any highway | Utah Admin. Rule R909-2 (PDF) |
| Montana | Non-interstate over 12 ft 6 in: 1 front; interstate over 16 ft 6 in: 1 rear | Over 17 ft high: front pilot with height pole | ARM 18.8.511A |
| Wyoming | Two-lane, 14 ft or more: front and rear; interstate, 15 ft or more: 1 rear | Rear overhang 25 ft or more: escort on all highways | WHP: Commercial Carrier |
| Colorado | Set by route color: Blue routes over 8 ft 6 in: 1 front; Yellow over 11 ft; Green over 13 ft | Pilots need Colorado (or listed) certification | CDOT: Permitting Information |
| New Mexico | 14 ft wide or more (less on some routes per NMDOT's map) | 20 ft wide or more: police escort; escorts must be NMDOT/DPS certified | 18.19.8 NMAC |
| Texas | Over 14 ft: 1 front on two-lane, 1 rear on divided | Over 16 ft: front and rear; over 17 ft high: front with height pole | TxDMV Motor Carrier Handbook (PDF) |
| North Dakota | Over 14 ft 6 in on two-lane: 1 front or amber lights | Over 16 ft: front and rear on two-lane, 1 rear on four-lane divided | NDHP Policy 9-6 (PDF) |
| South Dakota | Wider than 16 ft on Interstates; wider than 20 ft on state highways | Night movement of a daylight-only load: front and rear | SD Motor Carrier Handbook: Permits |
| Nebraska | 12 to 16 ft wide: 1 escort | Over 16 ft: front and rear | 408 NAC Ch. 3 (PDF) |
| Kansas | Over 14 ft on roads with fewer than four lanes: front and rear (rear may be lights) | Four or more lanes: rear escort for superloads only | K.A.R. 36-1-36 |
| Oklahoma | Over 12 ft: front on two-lane, rear on multi-lane | Over 16 ft: front and rear on all roads; 15 ft 9 in high: front and rear | OAC 730:50-5-18 |
Patterns
By state
State guides: Oregon · Washington · Idaho · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Texas · North Dakota · South Dakota · Nebraska · Kansas · Oklahoma. Permit detail: Oregon · Washington · Idaho · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Texas · North Dakota · South Dakota · Nebraska · Kansas · Oklahoma.
Have a specific load? Request a quote or run it through the permit checker. Every load we book is permitted, escorted and routed for you.
Questions we get
It depends on the state and road. Washington requires front and rear pilots over 11 ft on two-lane highways, Nebraska one escort from 12 ft, Texas and New Mexico from 14 ft, and South Dakota not until wider than 16 ft on Interstates.
Yes. Most states require fewer escorts on multilane or divided highways, and place the single escort at the rear instead of the front.
Thresholds vary: over 14 ft 6 in high in Oregon and Washington, over 15 ft 6 in in Nevada, over 16 ft in Idaho, and over 17 ft in Montana and Texas.
Examples: Utah over 17 ft wide on secondary highways or 20 ft on any highway, New Mexico at 20 ft wide or more, and California CHP escorts over 15 or 16 ft depending on route color.
Yes. When the number or placement of pilots on the permit differs from the general rule, the permit takes precedence.
Keep reading
Send the dimensions and lane. We handle permits, escorts and routing on CRST's network. Call (310) 989-6530.
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