Oklahoma pilot car regulations
Certification: required. Anyone driving an escort vehicle for hire in Oklahoma needs an ODOT escort certification card. You get it by taking the Oklahoma State University course and passing the exam with 75% or better. The card lasts 5 years, then you take the course again.
From Oklahoma's own rules and pages, checked 2026-10-24. Rules change: the state's page is the last word.
- Certification program
- Oklahoma Pilot/Escort certification (ODOT, course taught by Oklahoma State University Center for Local Government Technology)Source
- Other states' cards
- Drivers who live in another state may use that state's certification if that state has a reciprocal agreement with Oklahoma. Oklahoma residents must always hold an Oklahoma certification. The rule does not list the states.
- Minimum age
- 18
- Escort vehicle
- A pickup of at least 1/4 ton rated capacity or a car of at least 2,000 pounds, properly licensed. It must show the company or owner's name, city and state on both sides, readable from 50 feet. No towing (except a small supply trailer for manufactured home escorts by drivers who need no certification) and no loads that stick out.Source
- Sign
- Regulation "Oversize Load" sign (yellow background, black letters), at least 10 inches high on escort vehicles, mounted on the front or roof of front escorts and on the rear or roof of rear escorts, clearly visible, shown only while actively escorting.
- Lights
- One AAMVA-approved rotating or flashing amber beacon or flashing amber light bar on top of the vehicle, visible from 500 feet in normal sunlight, 360 degrees. Headlights on at all times while moving. Blue lights prohibited; red or white rotating lights not authorized. Lights shown only while escorting.
- Flags
- Red flags at least 12 inches square on standards angled upward left and right at 45 degrees, mounted on top of the cab, shown only while escorting.
- Height pole
- Non-conductive, flexible, non-fragile height measuring pole when escorting a load 15 feet 9 inches or taller.
- Other equipment
- Outside mirror on each side; two-way radio with at least 1 mile range compatible with the escorted vehicle; one 10-lb or two 5-lb ABC fire extinguishers (checked yearly); 4 LED flares or 3 cones or 3 triangle reflectors; STOP/SLOW paddle signs at least 18 inches with 6 inch letters (rule text says two); MUTCD hard hat and vest for each person doing traffic control; handheld flashlight visible 500 feet; full-size spare, jack and lug wrench. Driver must carry license and escort certification and be trained as a flagger per MUTCD 6E.01.
- Insurance
- Certified escort operators must carry at least $1,000,000 combined single limit or $1,000,000 per occurrence commercial liability from an insurer authorized in Oklahoma, with proof in the escort vehicle.Source