Michigan pilot car regulations

Certification: not published. We found no Michigan escort driver certification. MDOT's permit conditions describe the escort vehicle, sign and light, but say nothing about a driver card or course.

From Michigan's own rules and pages, checked 2026-10-24. Rules change: the state's page is the last word.

Escort vehicle
MDOT's general permit conditions say a passenger vehicle; its mobile home rules say a passenger vehicle or pickup truck. Either way it needs a flashing or rotating light on top of the cab.Source 1Source 2
Sign
An OVERSIZE LOAD sign on the roof, 5 feet long by 12 inches high, with 8-inch-high black letters on a yellow background. For mobile home moves, if the escort is a pickup the sign may sit in the truck bed as long as its bottom is higher than the roof.
Lights
At least one flashing or rotating amber light on top of the cab, visible for 500 feet.
Height pole
For mobile home moves over 12 feet wide and over 14 feet 6 inches high, the front escort must carry a fixed measuring device set high enough to make sure the load clears. No general height pole rule found for other loads.
Other equipment
For mobile home moves over 14 feet wide: two-way radio contact between the escort vehicles and the towing vehicle. No other escort equipment list found.
Insurance
MDOT only says insurance required by Michigan law must be in effect for oversize or overweight permit moves. No separate escort insurance amount found.Source