Connecticut pilot car regulations
Certification: not required. Connecticut's escort regulation (Sec. 14-270-21) and CTDOT's permit FAQ set no escort driver certification. The trucking company must supply the escorts the permit calls for; CTDOT may also require State Police escorts.
From Connecticut's own rules and pages, checked 2026-10-24. Rules change: the state's page is the last word.
- Escort vehicle
- Escort vehicles must be at least 60 inches wide and no more than 1 1/2 ton capacity. A pilot car may not tow anything and may escort only one load unless the permit allows it.Source
- Sign
- Regulation: top-mounted sign, bottom at least 48 inches above the road, reading "OVERSIZE LOAD AHEAD/FOLLOWING" (or "WIDE LOAD"/"LONG LOAD AHEAD/FOLLOWING"), black letters at least 8 inches high with 1-inch stroke on yellow; not displayed when not escorting. CTDOT FAQ: sign at least 5' long by 12" high, 8" black letters on yellow reading 'OVERSIZE LOAD', one on top or one each front and rear, bottom 48" above the road.
- Lights
- Top-mounted flashing or rotating amber light(s), on at all times while escorting, visible to the front when leading and to the rear when following from at least 1,000 feet.
- Flags
- 18-inch square flags on the front or rear corners of the escort vehicle (as appropriate) and on all corners of the load. Driver carries a red hand flag for stopping traffic when parked.
- Height pole
- A front pole car is required for all loads 14'-6" high or greater; it can count as a civilian escort if it meets the escort vehicle rules.
- Other equipment
- Two-way radio between pilot cars and the load; red vest or jacket and red hand flag for directing traffic.