Permit guides / Escort calculator Which states need escorts for your load? Enter your load's sizes. Every escort, pilot car, height pole and police rule it triggers is listed state by state, in the state's own terms.
From each state's rules and pages, checked 2026-10-24. Many rules depend on the road, and your permit lists the escorts your move needs: the permit comes first. Wisconsin is missing: its sites were down when we checked.
Your load Width
Height
Length
Gross weight
45 states have escort rules for a load this size. Many apply only on some roads.
12 to 14 ft wide on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source 12 to 14 ft wide on a multilane road: one escort behind. Source 90 to 125 ft long: one escort behind. Source Wider than 10 ft 6 in: at least one pilot car. Source Wider than 12 ft: at least two pilot cars. Source Single truck (no trailer) longer than 65 ft: at least one pilot car. Source Single truck (no trailer) longer than 85 ft: at least two pilot cars. Source Truck and trailer longer than 85 ft: at least one pilot car. Source Arizona sets width escorts road segment by road segment; these are its usual patterns.
Wider than 11 ft moving between 3 a.m. and dawn: one escort behind. Source Wider than 10 ft on these Phoenix and Tucson loops at rush hour: one escort behind; over 12 ft you can't move then. Source Wider than 12 ft on a road that isn't a four-lane divided highway: one escort in front. Source California sets pilot cars by the route's colour class (yellow, green, blue or brown).
Wider than 12 ft on a yellow route: one pilot car (in front on two-lane roads, behind on four-lane and freeways). Source Wider than 12 ft on a green route: one pilot car (in front on two-lane roads, behind on four-lane and freeways). Source Wider than 11 ft on a blue route: one pilot car (in front on two-lane roads, behind on four-lane and freeways). Source Wider than 13 ft on a blue route: one pilot car in front and one behind. Source Wider than 10 ft on a brown route: one pilot car (in front on two-lane roads, behind on four-lane and freeways). Source Wider than 12 ft on a brown route: one pilot car in front and one behind. Source Longer than 85 ft on a brown route: a pilot car. Source Colorado sets daylight escorts by the highway's colour on its restriction map.
Any oversize width on a blue-map highway: one escort in front (over 13 ft needs a special permit). Source Wider than 11 ft on a blue-map highway: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 11 ft on a yellow-map highway: one escort in front. Source Wider than 13 ft on a yellow-map highway: one escort in front, and an escort or a flashing yellow light behind (over 15 ft needs a special permit). Source Wider than 13 ft on a green-map two-lane highway: one escort in front. Source Wider than 13 ft on a green-map four-lane highway: an escort or a flashing yellow light behind. Source Wider than 12 ft at night on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft at night on a four-lane road: one escort behind. Source Longer than 85 ft on a mountain two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft (or wider than the lane): one pilot car, in front on two-lane roads and behind on divided highways. Source Wider than 13 ft on a multilane highway: one escort behind. Source Wider than 13 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Longer than 90 ft: one escort behind. Source 15 ft tall or more: one escort in front and one behind. Source DC only recommends pilot cars; above these sizes it asks you to contact MPD about a police escort.
Longer than 75 ft: DDOT recommends a pilot car (MPD is notified and may add oversight). Source Wider than 12 ft: DDOT recommends a pilot car. Source Taller than 13 ft 6 in: DDOT recommends a pilot car. Source Taller than 14 ft: DDOT recommends one pilot car in front and one behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: contact MPD about a police escort; a height-pole car may be required. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: a height-pole car may be required (check with MPD). Source Wider than 12 ft: one escort, in front on two-lane roads and behind on four-lane divided roads. Source Wider than 12 ft on narrow lanes or busy roads: two escorts, unless the load has four warning lights. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Longer than 75 ft (up to 100 ft): one rear escort or an amber light. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft 8 in) on a two-lane road: one escort in front, and an escort or amber light behind. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft 8 in) on a four-lane highway: one escort behind. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft 8 in) on an interstate: one rear escort or an amber light. Source Wider than 12 ft: you need an escort vehicle. Source 14 ft wide or more: an escort, flagger or police must go with you, and top speed is 25 mph. Source Idaho sets escorts by the route's red, black or white code on its escort map.
On a red-coded route, wider than 10 ft: one escort in front and one behind. Source On a red-coded route, longer than 75 ft: one escort in front. Source On a red-coded route, longer than 75 ft and wider than 8 ft 6 in: one escort in front and one behind. Source On a black-coded route, wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft): one escort in front. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort, in front, with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft 4 in on an undivided highway: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft 4 in on a divided highway: one escort behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft on a 4-lane road: one escort behind, or amber lights on the truck and the back of the load instead. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft 6 in) on a 2-lane road: one escort in front, or amber lights on the truck and the back of the load instead. Source Longer than 75 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Longer than 85 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front and one behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 11 in on a two-lane road: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft on a four-lane road: one escort behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 11 in on a four-lane road: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 16 ft) on a two-lane road: one private escort car. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 16 ft) on a multi-lane road: one escort behind and a pole car in front. Source Longer than 90 ft (up to 125 ft): one private escort car. Source Wider than 12 ft (under 16 ft) on an undivided road: one pilot car in front. Source Wider than 12 ft (under 16 ft) on a divided highway: one pilot car behind. Source Longer than 80 ft (under 125 ft) on an undivided road: one pilot car in front. Source Longer than 80 ft (under 125 ft) on a divided highway: one pilot car behind. Source Wider than 13 ft (except manufactured homes): one escort. Source Longer than 85 ft: one escort. Source 14 ft 6 in high or more: one escort with a height pole, driving in front. Source Construction equipment wider than 12 ft off the interstate: one escort. Source 14 ft wide or more (manufactured homes too): two escorts, one in front and one behind. Source On the Mass Pike, longer than 90 ft (up to 100 ft): one pilot car behind you, unless you're a normal semi with a trailer of 53 ft or less. Source On the Mass Pike, wider than 13 ft 6 in (up to 16 ft): pilot cars in front and behind. Source On Boston's Metropolitan Highway System, wider than 12 ft: one pilot car behind you. Source On Boston's Metropolitan Highway System, longer than 80 ft (up to 95 ft): one pilot car behind you. Source On Boston's Metropolitan Highway System, wider than 13 ft 6 in: pilot cars in front and behind. Source Mobile home or building module wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft): one escort behind you. Source Mobile home or module both wider than 12 ft and taller than 14 ft 6 in: escorts in front and behind, front one with a height pole. Source 13 ft wide or more on a two-lane road in daylight: one escort in front. Source 13 ft wide or more on a divided highway in daylight: one escort behind. Source 10 ft wide or more on a two-lane road at night: one escort in front. Source 10 ft wide or more on a divided highway at night: one escort behind. Source Wider than 12 ft 6 in on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft 6 in on a multilane road: one escort behind. Source Wider than 12 ft 6 in off the interstate: one escort in front. Source 12 ft wide or more on an undivided road: one escort in front. Source 12 ft wide or more on a divided highway: one escort behind, unless your route is on NDOT's no-rear-escort list and your trailer has rear amber flashers. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two- or three-lane road: one pilot car in front. Source Wider than 12 ft and moving at night or in holiday hours: one pilot car in front and one behind. Source On a restricted route, anything wider than 8 ft 6 in: one pilot car in front and one behind. Source On a restricted route, anything longer than 85 ft: one pilot car in front and one behind. Source 12 ft wide or more: one escort, in front on undivided roads and behind on divided roads. Source 90 ft long or more: one escort, in front on undivided roads and behind on divided roads. Source Taller than 14 ft: one escort, in front on undivided roads and behind on divided roads. Source 12 ft wide or more with 15 ft or more hanging off the back: two escorts, one in front and one behind. Source 14 ft wide or wider on a two-lane road: an escort in front (DOT may require more, or escorts for narrower loads on mapped highways). Source 14 ft wide or wider on a multilane road: an escort behind (DOT may require more). Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one certified escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft on a four-lane or divided highway: one certified escort behind. Source 80 ft long or more on a two-lane road: one certified escort in front. Source 80 ft long or more on a road with more than two lanes: one escort behind. Source 14 ft high or more on a two-lane road: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft on a multi-lane highway: one escort behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 5 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source When a load meets more than one escort condition, Ohio requires two escorts.
Longer than 90 ft: one escort behind. Source Wider than 13 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 13 ft on a multi-lane road: one escort behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Taller than 14 ft 10 in: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft on a multilane highway: one escort behind. Source Longer than 80 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Oregon sets escorts by your route's colour on its route maps: the rules below name the colours.
Wider than 12 ft on a green-route two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 9 ft on a purple route: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft on a purple route: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 9 ft on a Map 1 black route: one escort in front. Source Wider than 11 ft on a Map 1 black route: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 8 ft 6 in on a Map 1 blue route: one escort in front. Source Wider than 11 ft on a Map 1 blue route: one escort in front and one behind. Source Any overwidth load on a Map 1 red route: one escort in front and one behind. Source Higher than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Longer than 90 ft, or more than 15 ft of rear overhang: one escort behind. Source Wider than 13 ft on a road with two or more lanes your way: one escort behind. Source Wider than 13 ft on a road with one lane your way: one escort in front. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole, and call the utilities a day ahead. Source 12 ft wide or more on an undivided road: one escort in front. Source 12 ft wide or more on a divided highway: one escort behind. Source 80 ft long or more on an undivided road: one escort in front. Source 80 ft long or more on a divided highway: one escort behind. Source Longer than 90 ft: two escorts, one in front and one behind. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front (SCDOT may add a rear one). Source Wider than 10 ft on the listed Black Hills roads (like US-16A, SD-87, SD-244): one escort in front. Source Wider than 10 ft on a narrow road (under 24 ft of pavement): one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft 6 in on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft 6 in on an interstate or 4-lane road: one escort behind. Source Wider than 13 ft 6 in: one escort in front and one behind on every road, with radios. Source Longer than 90 ft: one escort right behind you. Source Wider than 12 ft on a secondary highway in daylight: one pilot escort. Source Wider than 12 ft (up to 14 ft) on a freeway at night: one pilot escort. Source 12 ft wide or more on an undivided road: one escort in front. Source 12 ft wide or more on a divided highway: one escort behind. Source 80 ft long or more on an undivided road: one escort in front. Source 80 ft long or more on a divided highway: one escort behind. Source Wider than 12 ft off the interstate: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 12 ft on the interstate: one escort behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 5 in: one escort in front with a height pole set 3 in above the load. Source Longer than 90 ft off the interstate: one escort behind. Source Wider than 11 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front and one behind. Source Taller than 14 ft 6 in: one escort in front with a height pole. Source Wider than 12 ft and taller than 14 ft 6 in on a multilane highway: also one escort behind. Source 10 ft 6 in wide or more on a two-lane road: one escort in front. Source Wider than 12 ft on a two-lane road: one escort in front and one behind. Source Wider than 12 ft on a four-lane road: one escort behind. Source 75 ft long or more on a two-lane road: one escort behind. Source 14 ft wide or more on a two-lane road: one escort in front and one behind. Source No escort rule for this load in Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas.
Escort rules as printed on real permits
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