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HTS Logistics
Pilot Car Requirements by State

Pilot Car Requirements by State

Escort triggers for width, height and length in 28 states, checked against each state's rules in October 2026

Quick answer

When does an oversize load need a pilot car?

It depends on the state and the dimension. Width is the most common trigger: one escort over 12 ft wide in New York, over 13 ft in Pennsylvania and Ohio, over 14 ft in New Jersey and Texas, and over 14 ft 6 in in Illinois. Height, length and overhang carry their own triggers, and the largest loads need police escorts as well.

Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).

Same load, different answer in each state

Take a machine that rides 13 ft 6 in wide on the trailer. It needs no escort in New Jersey, Texas, Illinois or Minnesota (which waits until 15 ft), one in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri and on the Mass Pike, and two in Connecticut, where 13 ft 6 in is the line for front and rear escorts, and on Virginia roads off the Interstate. In California and Colorado the answer depends on the route's color on the state's escort map, and Arizona sets it road by road.

A multi-state move has to meet each state's rule while it is in that state, so escorts can join or drop off at state lines. The issued permit is what the driver and escorts follow; the tables below show where each state starts. For the permit itself, see oversize permits by state.

Pilot car requirements by state: width and length

Escort width and length triggers in 28 states, checked October 2026
StateFirst escortMore escortsLengthRule
New York Over 12 ft wide: 1 certified escort, in front on two-lane roads and behind on roads with more lanes Over 16 ft wide on two-lane roads, or 18 ft or more on four-lane: 3 escorts (2 front, 1 rear) 80 ft or more: 1 escort; 100 ft or more on two-lane roads, or 160 ft or more on four-lane: 3 17 NYCRR 154-1; NYSDOT Escort Manual 2025
New Jersey Over 14 ft wide: 1 escort, behind on highways with 4 or more lanes and in front on narrower roads Over 16 ft wide: 2 escorts (front and rear) plus a route survey Over 100 ft: 1 escort; over 120 ft: 2 N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.12; NJDOT Guidebook 5.5
Pennsylvania Over 13 ft wide: 1 pilot car, following on highways with 2 or more lanes each way and leading on one-lane roads Over 13 ft wide with over 120 ft length, or with over 14 ft 6 in height: 2 (PennDOT pilot car sheet) Over 90 ft, or more than 15 ft of rear overhang: 1 following pilot car 67 Pa. Code 179.10(13); 75 Pa.C.S. 4962
Connecticut Over 12 ft wide: 1 escort, behind on divided highways and in front on undivided roads 13 ft 6 in wide or more: front and rear; 15 ft or more: 1 front and 2 rear Over 80 ft on undivided roads: 1 rear; over 100 ft: front and rear on undivided roads; over 119 ft 11 in: front, rear and State Police CTDOT OSOW FAQ; RCSA 14-270-21
Massachusetts Mass Pike: over 12 ft wide: 1 following pilot car (the same in the Boston tunnels and Central Artery) Over 13 ft 6 in up to 16 ft wide: 2, one ahead and one behind Mass Pike: over 90 ft: 1; over 100 ft: 2 (Boston system: over 80 ft: 1; over 95 ft: 2) 700 CMR 7.07(4)(d)
California Depends on the route color: over 10 ft wide on brown routes, over 11 ft on blue, over 12 ft on yellow and green 2 pilot cars over 12 ft (brown), 13 ft (blue), 14 ft (green) or 15 ft (yellow) Over 120 ft on yellow and green routes, over 100 ft on blue, over 85 ft on brown Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual; Pilot Car Map Legend
Florida Over 12 ft wide: 1 qualified escort, or 2 on narrow lanes, short bridges and busy urban roads unless the load shows 4 warning lights Over 14 ft wide: 2 (front and rear), trip permits only; over 16 ft: local moves only, with law enforcement on most roads Over 95 ft: 1; over 150 ft: 2 (1 on limited-access roads); over 250 ft: law enforcement plus 1 F.A.C. 14-26.012
Georgia Over 12 ft wide: a rear escort on four-lane roads; a front escort plus rear amber lights on two-lane roads Over 14 ft 8 in wide on two-lane highways: front and rear escorts Over 75 ft: rear amber light; over 100 ft: rear escort; over 125 ft: front and rear Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06
Illinois Over 14 ft 6 in wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 110 ft long: 1 civilian escort Two of those at once: 2; over 16 ft wide, 18 ft high or 145 ft long: 3 Over 110 ft: 1; over 145 ft: 3 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554.407-554.408; IDOT OPER 993
Ohio Over 13 ft wide: 1 lead escort (behind instead on multi-lane highways) Over 14 ft 6 in wide or 14 ft 10 in high, or more than one trigger at once: 2 (lead and rear) Over 90 ft: 1 rear escort ODOT Form OS-1A; Operational Guide Sec. 12
Texas Over 14 ft wide: 1 escort, in front on two-lane roads and behind on roads with 4 or more lanes Over 16 ft wide: front and rear on all roads Over 110 ft: 1; over 125 ft: front and rear plus a carrier route inspection 43 TAC 219.11(k); Transp. Code 623.008
Alabama Over 12 ft wide: 1 escort, in front on two-lane roads and behind on multilane roads Over 14 ft wide: front and rear on all roads 90 to 125 ft: 1 rear; 125 to 150 ft: front and rear; over 150 ft: law enforcement front and rear Ala. Admin. Code 450-3-1-.05
Kentucky Over 12 ft wide: lead and trail escorts on two-lane routes; a trail escort on four-lane routes Over 14 ft wide on four-lane routes: lead and trail; over 16 ft: 2 front and 2 rear (KYTC) Two-lane: over 75 ft lead, over 85 ft lead and trail; four-lane: over 110 ft trail; over 120 ft: 1 front and 2 rear (KYTC) 601 KAR 1:018 Sec. 13-14; KYTC escort page
South Carolina Over 12 ft wide: 1 front escort on two-lane highways (SCDOT may add a rear escort) Over 14 ft: front and rear on all roads, four-lane highways only; over 16 ft: 2 civilian and 2 police escorts 125 to 150 ft: 1 rear; over 150 ft: front and rear SCDOT OSOW Guidelines (rev. 3/2026), Sec. Q
Virginia Over 12 ft wide: front and rear escorts off the Interstate; 1 rear escort on it Over 14 ft: 2 front and 1 rear off the Interstate (1 and 1 on it); over 16 ft: 2 front and 2 rear (1 front and 2 rear on it) Over 90 ft off the Interstate or 120 ft on it: 1 rear; over 150 ft: front and rear 24VAC20-82-130; Va. Code 46.2-2901
New Mexico 14 ft wide or more on any highway; 13 ft 6 in on Escort Map Group A routes and 12 ft on Group B routes NMDOT sets the number of escorts on the permit Over 110 ft 1 in: 1 escort; over 120 ft 1 in: 2 18.19.8.81-.90 NMAC
Colorado Depends on the highway's color on CDOT's escort map: 1 front escort over 8 ft 6 in wide on blue routes, over 11 ft on yellow Front and rear over 11 ft on blue routes; Chapter 6 Special permits get at least front and rear Over 85 ft on mountainous two-lane highways, 110 ft on other two-lane (front), 115 ft on four-lane (rear) 2 CCR 601-4, Rules 408-411 and 500-505
Utah Over 12 ft wide on secondary highways or over 14 ft on freeways: 1 pilot escort Over 14 ft on secondary highways or 16 ft on freeways: 2 pilot escorts Freeways: over 120 ft, 1; secondary highways: over 105 ft, 1, and over 120 ft, 2 Utah Admin. Code R909-2-14 Table 3, R909-2-24
Arizona Set route by route: none on Interstates up to 14 ft wide; front and rear from over 10, 11 or 12 ft on narrower routes 14 to 16 ft: 1 rear on Interstates and Phoenix freeways, front and rear on most two-lane routes No statewide trigger; route entries start between 60 and 110 ft A.A.C. R17-6-305, R17-6-412 Table 4
Michigan Set on each permit (Special Provisions 11 and 12); MDOT publishes no numeric triggers for general loads Mobile homes and building modules over 14 ft wide: front and rear Over 90 ft on an Interstate: pilot vehicle (Mackinac Bridge Authority) MDOT T-2 and T-3; MSP Official Order 06-23
Indiana Over 12 ft 4 in wide, over 110 ft long or over 14 ft 6 in high: 1 escort, in front on undivided highways and behind on divided 14 ft 4 in to 17 ft wide: front and rear, except 1 rear on divided highways Over 110 ft: 1 escort Indiana DOR Forms M-204 and M-204S
Minnesota Over 15 ft wide at the bottom of the load (16 ft at the top): 1 certified rear escort on divided roads The same widths on undivided roads: certified front and rear escorts Over 110 ft: 1 rear on divided roads, front and rear on undivided; over 150 ft: front and rear everywhere Minn. Stat. 169.812; Minn. R. 7455
Iowa Over 12 ft wide: 1 escort (rear on four-lane, front on two-lane), or amber lights instead up to 14 ft 6 in Over 18 ft: set case by case on the permit Over 120 ft: 1 rear escort 761 IAC 511.20
Oklahoma Over 12 ft wide: 1 escort on every highway, Interstates included (front on two-lane, rear on multi-lane) Over 14 ft: front and rear on two-lane roads; over 16 ft: front and rear on all roads, and no Interstates Over 90 ft: 1 front on two-lane roads; over 100 ft: front and rear OAC 730:50-5-16 to -18; 47 O.S. 14-120.1
Missouri Over 12 ft 6 in wide: 1 escort, in front on two-lane highways and behind on divided and multilane roads Over 14 ft: front and rear except on divided highways; over 16 ft: front and rear everywhere plus an extra front escort on two-lane roads Over 110 ft: 1 rear (except on divided highways); over 150 ft: rear, plus front on two-lane roads 7 CSR 10-25.020; MoDOT escort table (rev. 1/20/2026)
Nebraska 12 to 16 ft wide: 1 escort (front on undivided, rear on divided highways); the rear escort can be replaced by rear amber lights on listed divided routes Over 16 ft wide or over 150 ft long: front and rear 125 to 150 ft: 1 escort; over 150 ft: 2, on a pre-run route 408 NAC 3-003.19 to 003.21
Arkansas Over 12 ft wide: 1 front escort, except on controlled-access divided highways of 4 or more lanes Over 14 ft: 1 rear on those highways, front and rear elsewhere 100 ft or more: 1; over 115 ft: 2 on roads with fewer than 4 lanes 27 CAR 111-205, 111-505
Louisiana Over 12 ft wide: 1 escort holding a Louisiana Escort Vehicle Permit (front on two-lane, rear on multilane highways) Over 16 ft wide: Louisiana State Police; over 18 ft: State Police front and rear 90 to 125 ft: 1 rear; over 125 ft: State Police LAC 73:I.723; LAC 55:I.2309; DOTD permit book

Massachusetts figures are from the Turnpike and Boston highway rule (700 CMR 7.07); MassDOT's statewide escort table was not available in an official document, so it is left out.

Height poles, police escorts and certification

Height, police escort and escort certification rules in 28 states
StateHeightPolice escortEscort certification
New York 14 ft or more: front escort with a height pole 3 in above the load (6 in if over 12 ft wide), running 3,000 ft ahead Superloads (over 16 ft wide, 16 ft or higher, over 160 ft, 200,000 lb or more): police on top of certified escorts Yes. Every escort must be a NYS Certified Escort, whatever the driver's home state ($40 DMV written test)
New Jersey Over 14 ft: utilities and road owners must be notified before the move; no height-pole rule found Facility rules only: Port Authority crossings, Delaware River Port Authority bridges and Port Street at Port Newark No. NJDOT has no escort certification and no limit on escort vehicle size or type
Pennsylvania Over 14 ft 6 in: lead pilot car with a height pole 1,000 to 3,000 ft ahead, and utilities notified 24 hours before Super loads (over 201,000 lb, 160 ft long or 16 ft wide): State or local police plus at least 1 certified escort For super loads. Certified escort vehicles may replace State Police up to 18 ft wide and 260 ft long on multi-lane highways
Connecticut Over 14 ft: 1 front escort; 14 ft 6 in or more: a front pole car As CTDOT decides at issuance; front and rear State Police when over 13 ft 5 in wide and over 15 ft high, and on superloads Vehicle rules only: at least 60 in wide, no more than 1.5 ton capacity, roof amber light, radio and OVERSIZE LOAD sign
Massachusetts No escort height trigger in the Turnpike rule; the Callahan and Sumner tunnels stop at 12 ft 6 in, the other Boston tunnels at 13 ft 6 in Wider than 16 ft or longer than 135 ft: 2 State Police vehicles in addition to pilot cars Equipment rules only: two flashing amber lights, 24 in red flags and an OVERSIZE LOAD sign
California No mandatory height-pole threshold found; CHP escort at 17 ft and up on blue and brown routes CHP over 16 ft wide on yellow routes or over 15 ft on the others; over 185 ft (yellow, green) or 135 ft (blue, brown) No state pilot car operator certification found
Florida Over 14 ft 6 in: front escort with a non-conductive height pole at least 6 in above the load; over 16 ft: law enforcement too Over 16 ft wide off limited-access roads (2 officers), over 16 ft high, over 250 ft long, and night moves Yes. Florida-qualified escort (8-hour flagging course, renewed every 4 years) or one from a state with equal standards
Georgia 15 ft 6 in or more: front escort with a height sensor, unless the hauler holds an NJUNS utility ticket Over 16 ft wide, case by case; Mega Loads of 300,000 lb or more: at least 2 police escorts Yes. Georgia certification or a reciprocal one (GDOT accepts Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Virginia and Washington)
Illinois Over 14 ft 6 in: lead escort with a measuring pole Over 18 ft wide or high, over 200 ft long, or when a bridge analysis calls for it: Illinois State Police, booked 24 working hours ahead No certification found; escorts must carry $500,000 per occurrence liability coverage
Ohio Over 14 ft 6 in: lead escort with a height-sensing device Over 16 ft wide, or any move ODOT judges likely to cause delay, hazard or damage No certification found; vehicle and equipment rules in ODOT's Operational Guide, Sec. 12
Texas Over 17 ft: front escort with a height pole; over 18 ft: front and rear When TxDOT requires it, often inside city limits; Houston District loads over 20 ft wide No escort-driver certification; anyone directing traffic needs TCOLE traffic-direction training
Alabama Over 15 ft 6 in: front escort with a height pole Over 150 ft long and superloads (over 16 ft wide, 16 ft high, 150 ft long or 300,000 lb): at least 2 troopers or police, scheduled after ALDOT pre-approval Escort drivers must have finished a pilot/escort flagging course equal to Alabama's
Kentucky Over 14 ft 11 in: lead escort with a height pole; over 15 ft 6 in a route survey is filed too No police escort trigger found in 601 KAR 1:018 or on KYTC's pages No escort-driver certification found
South Carolina 16 ft or more: front escort with a height measuring device, plus a route survey certified before the permit issues Over 16 ft wide: front and rear police; State Transport Police charge $50 an hour per officer (2-hour minimum), booked 48 hours ahead No escort-driver certification found
Virginia Over 14 ft 5 in: front escort with a height pole 3 in above the load Case by case on the permit; required on some narrow bridges for loads over 12 ft wide, booked 24 hours ahead Yes. Virginia escort certificate (8-hour course, 80% test, $25, valid 5 years) or one from a reciprocal state (North Carolina only)
New Mexico Over 16 ft: an escort or a second person may have to check each clearance; no height-pole rule found At NMDOT's discretion, including loads 20 ft wide or more and moves that need counter-flow The escort vehicle must be certified by NMDOT or DPS (inspected yearly) before it enters New Mexico
Colorado Over 16 ft: front escort with a height pole no more than 6 in above the load; over 17 ft a signal contractor at signalized intersections Colorado State Patrol case by case on Chapter 6 Special and Super Load permits Yes. CDOT-authorized pilot escort certification (4 years) and $1,000,000 liability; certificates from AZ, FL, MN, OK, UT, WA and SC&RA accepted
Utah Over 16 ft: 2 pilot escorts, the lead with a non-conductive height pole Over 20 ft wide on freeways, 17 ft on secondary highways, 175 ft long or 17 ft 6 in high: at least 2 Utah Highway Patrol escorts, booked 48 hours ahead Yes. Certification from a division-authorized program (Utah drivers take a Utah course) and $750,000 insurance
Arizona Over 15 ft in the 3 AM pre-sunrise window: front escort with a height pole; over 16 ft: utilities must be notified Where ADOT's route table lists them (all of I-15, for example) and on Class C permits; DPS booked 12 hours ahead Yes. Escort operators trained and certified to CVSA standards and recertified every 4 years; other states' certificates accepted
Michigan Over 14 ft 6 in with a front escort: height pole set to clear the load When MDOT requires it, usually superloads: at least 2 State Police members, booked through MSP Operations No. MDOT says Michigan does not regulate or certify escort services
Indiana Over 14 ft 6 in: front escort with a height stick; over 15 ft off the Interstate, a signal contractor with a bucket truck Over 17 ft wide, and over 200,000 lb unless Interstate-only under 250,000 lb with no slowdowns: Indiana State Police at $43 an hour per trooper No escort-driver certification found
Minnesota Height pole over 15 ft 6 in when the permit calls for one; over 16 ft a MnDOT-approved route survey instead of pole cars Any part of the load left of the centerline on an undivided road: a lead licensed peace officer plus certified escorts Yes. Minnesota certificate (8-hour class, $180, 4 years) or a reciprocal one from CO, FL, NC, OK, UT, VA or WA
Iowa Over 14 ft 6 in: front escort with a pole that measures every clearance No numeric trigger; State Patrol escorts need at least a week's notice, and civilian escorts may not stop traffic No certification; escort drivers 18 or older with liability insurance of $100,000/$200,000/$50,000
Oklahoma 15 ft 9 in or more: front and rear escorts, a height pole, and every utility and railroad on the route contacted Highway Patrol (Troop S) on superloads such as loads over 20 ft wide; the escort contract takes 5 to 7 working days Yes. ODOT escort operator certification (OSU course, 5 years) for every for-hire escort; out-of-state certificates only from reciprocal states
Missouri Over 15 ft 6 in: a front height-detection vehicle Highway Patrol over 18 ft wide, 18 ft high or 200 ft long under MoDOT's 2026 pilot (the rule itself says 16 ft, 17 ft and 150 ft) No escort-driver certification in 7 CSR 10-25.020
Nebraska Over 14 ft 6 in: a pole car may be required; 16 ft or more: a pole car and a pre-run route survey No statewide threshold published; set on each permit No escort-driver certification in 408 NAC 3
Arkansas Over 15 ft: front pole car with a bar 6 in above the permitted height When the Permit Section or the Highway Police require it; loads over 20 ft wide move on Sundays only No certification found; escort companies carry $325,000 combined single limit insurance
Louisiana Over 15 ft 10 in: pole vehicle ahead of the load; over 16 ft 8 in: a lead pole truck equipped to lift lines Over 16 ft wide or 125 ft long on state highways, booked with the nearest troop; private escorts may not escort loads over 16 ft wide Annual Louisiana Escort Vehicle Permit ($10); no driver training certification found

When the lead escort needs a height pole

A height pole is set a few inches above the load so the lead car finds a low wire, signal or bridge before the load gets there. The thresholds run from 14 ft in New York to over 17 ft in Texas:

  • 14 ft or moreNew York
  • Over 14 ft 5 inVirginia (pole 3 in above the load)
  • 14 ft 6 inPennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan; Nebraska may require one from here
  • Over 14 ft 11 inKentucky
  • Over 15 ftArkansas (bar 6 in above the permitted height)
  • 15 ft 6 inGeorgia (unless the hauler holds an NJUNS utility ticket), Alabama and Missouri; Minnesota when the permit calls for a pole
  • 15 ft 9 inOklahoma
  • Over 15 ft 10 inLouisiana
  • 16 ftSouth Carolina, Nebraska, Colorado and Utah
  • Over 17 ftTexas
  • No height-pole rule foundNew Jersey (utility notice over 14 ft instead), California and New Mexico

Tall loads often need more than a pole. Pennsylvania wants utilities notified 24 hours before a move over 14 ft 6 in, New Jersey voids the permit if utilities and road owners are not told about a load over 14 ft, and New York needs a route survey with utility arrangements at 14 ft and above. On Long Island, low parkway bridges rule out most routes before height poles come into it: see Long Island truck routes and clearances.

What an escort vehicle has to carry

Every state requires an OVERSIZE LOAD sign, amber warning lights and radio contact with the driver, but the sizes differ. These are the states whose rules give exact figures:

New York

OVERSIZE LOAD sign at least 5 ft x 12 in, amber light bar 43 to 52 in long, wheelbase of at least 100 in, and the NYS Certified Escort insignia on both sides

Texas

Sign 5 to 7 ft long and 12 to 18 in tall with 8 to 10 in black letters on yellow; vehicle 1,000 to 10,000 lb GVW

Ohio

Sign 5 ft x 12 in with 8 in letters; roof amber light visible 1,000 ft in daylight; vehicle rated 1 ton or less

Georgia

Sign at least 1 ft x 6 ft with 8 in letters; roof-mounted amber light; two-way radio

California

Black-on-yellow sign with letters at least 6 in tall, mounted at least 48 in high; vehicle at least 60 in wide; 16 in red flags

Florida

Vehicle of 2,000 to under 26,000 lb GVWR; amber lights visible at 500 ft; OVERSIZE LOAD sign and two 18 in flags

Illinois

Vehicle up to 8,000 lb GVW; amber light visible 500 ft in sunlight; OVERSIZE LOAD sign; radio contact with the driver

Colorado

Roof sign either 5 ft x 10 in with 8 in letters or 7 ft x 18 in with 10 in letters; vehicle up to 16,000 lb GVW and at least 60 in wide; $1,000,000 liability

Minnesota

Rigid roof sign at least 5 ft wide and 10 in high with 8 in letters (bumper-only signs not allowed); 100 in minimum wheelbase; $1,000,000 insurance

Louisiana

Only OVERSIZE LOAD signs are accepted, never WIDE LOAD; amber light base at least 60 in above the road; escorted speed never above 55 mph

Planning escorts into a move

  1. Measure the load as it will ride. Escort triggers use the loaded width, height and overall length, including overhang. A few inches can change the count: Illinois requires no escort at 14 ft 6 in wide and one escort for anything wider.
  2. Check every state and road owner on the route. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, the NYS Thruway and Boston's tunnels each have their own escort rules on top of the state's. The oversize load checker shows the first trigger in each state at once.
  3. Match certification to the state. A New York permit needs NYS Certified Escorts even for an out-of-state crew; Florida and Georgia accept only their own or reciprocal certificates.
  4. Book police early. Illinois State Police escorts need 24 working hours' notice, and New York superloads need the police contacted 2 business days ahead.
  5. Price it in. Escorts are billed per mile or per day on top of the haul. The heavy equipment transport cost guide shows how they add up with permits and fuel.

Superload lines, where escorts turn into police details and route surveys, are compared state by state on our heavy haul trucking page.

Pilot car questions

What states require certified pilot cars?

Of the 28 states on this page, New York, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah and Arizona require escort drivers to be certified, most accepting some other states' certificates. Pennsylvania requires certified escorts on super loads, Alabama a flagging course and New Mexico an inspected escort vehicle. New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, California, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and several others have no driver certification.

When does a load need a height pole?

When it is tall enough that the lead escort has to check clearances before the load reaches them. New York requires a pole at 14 ft, set 3 in above the load (6 in if the load is over 12 ft wide). Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois and Florida start at 14 ft 6 in, Georgia at 15 ft 6 in and Texas over 17 ft.

When is a police escort required?

Usually only for the largest loads or specific crossings. Pennsylvania requires police on super loads (over 201,000 lb, 160 ft or 16 ft wide), Illinois over 18 ft wide or 200 ft long, Massachusetts over 16 ft wide or 135 ft long on the Turnpike, and New Jersey on Port Authority crossings and Port Street at Port Newark. Police escorts are booked separately and often need 24 to 48 hours' notice.

Does the escort drive in front of the load or behind it?

Most of these states put a single escort in front on two-lane roads and behind on multi-lane highways: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois and Texas all follow that pattern, and Connecticut uses a rear escort on divided highways. Height-pole cars always lead, because they have to find a low wire or bridge before the load does.

What is the going rate for a pilot car?

Escort companies set their own prices. One Virginia pilot car company's published 2026 starting rates were $1.95 to $2.15 a mile for a lead or chase car, $2.25 to $2.50 a mile with a height pole, and $575 to $775 a day. Those are one vendor's prices, not a market average; our cost guide shows how escorts fit into the total.

Who books the pilot cars on a heavy haul move?

Whoever plans the move against the permit. On loads HTS books, we read the escort conditions on each state's permit, arrange escorts that meet them (certified ones where the state requires it) and build them into the quote. The carrier's driver and the escorts then run the move together under the permit's route and travel times.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the sources below. Rules and rates change; we confirm current requirements on every move.

  1. NYSDOT: Certified Escort Manual 2025
  2. 17 NYCRR Subpart 154-1 (NYSDOT copy)
  3. N.J.A.C. 13:18 Subchapter 1 (NJDOT copy)
  4. PennDOT: number of pilot cars cheat sheet
  5. PennDOT: certified escort policy for superload moves
  6. CTDOT: oversize/overweight permit FAQ
  7. MassDOT: 700 CMR 7.00 (Turnpike and Metropolitan Highway System)
  8. Caltrans: single trip pilot car map legend
  9. F.A.C. 14-26.012: movement conditions and restrictions (Florida)
  10. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 672-2-.06: pilot/escort certification and escorts
  11. 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554.407: when escorts are required
  12. 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554.408: civilian escort requirements
  13. ODOT: limitations and provisions of a special hauling permit
  14. TxDMV: escort and equipment requirements
  15. Ala. Admin. Code ch. 450-3-1
  16. 601 KAR 1:018 (Kentucky)
  17. SCDOT: guidelines for movement of OSOW vehicles (rev. 3/2026)
  18. 24VAC20-82: Virginia overload and hauling permits
  19. 18.19.8 NMAC: size and weight of vehicles and loads
  20. CDOT Freight: pilot escort resources
  21. Utah Admin. Code R909-2 (eff. 3/16/2026)
  22. ADOT: escort information and guidelines
  23. MDOT T-2: movement of oversize or overweight vehicles (10/2023)
  24. Indiana DOR Form M-204: general provisions of an OS/OW permit
  25. MnDOT: escort requirements
  26. 761 IAC chapter 511 (Iowa)
  27. OAC 730:50: Oklahoma size and weight permits
  28. 7 CSR 10-25.020 (Missouri)
  29. 408 NAC 3 (Nebraska permits)
  30. 27 CAR Part 111 (Arkansas permit rules)
  31. Louisiana DOTD: oversize and overweight truck permits

Moving a load that needs escorts?

Send the load's width, height, length and weight and the route. We check each state's escort rules, arrange the escorts the permits call for and include them in the quote.

  • FMCSA-licensed property broker, MC# 1178470
  • Permits, escorts and route surveys arranged for each move
  • Carriers checked for authority, insurance and safety record
  • Commercial shippers, dealers, contractors and auction buyers

Prefer to talk? Call (631) 683-8275.

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