Pilot Car Regulations
Alabama Pilot Car Regulations
Guidelines for Alabama pilot car, escort car, and flag car regulations. Always confirm current requirements with the permit office.
Verify before you move: This information comes from our previous website and hasn't been re-checked yet. Rules change often — always confirm with the
Alabama permit office before you dispatch.
Road conditions
- (888) 588-2848
When Permit Is Needed
- Over 8' 6” wide,
- Semi-trailer over 53' 6" long,
- Over 13' 6"high
Special Information Needed
- Date and time of movement
- Truck make, license # and state
- Physical address if starting or stopping inside state
- Overweight-need original origin and destination
- Containerized-need to know what's inside container
Times Of Movement
- Daylight hours only; no Sunday travel
- Loads 120’-150’ restricted from 9am-3pm M-F
- Travel prohibited on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Friday- Sunday after, Christmas
- Permit office closed on the above holidays as well as Martin Luther King Day, Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Confederate Memorial Day, Jefferson Davis’ Birthday, & Veteran’s Day (Travel not restricted)
When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required
- Over 12' to 14’ wide-1 front escort on 2 lane roads or 1 rear for multilane roads
- Over 14’ wide require 1 front & 1 rear escort on all roads
- Over 90' to 125' long- 1 pilot car in rear; over 125’- 150’-2 pilots (1 pilot car in front & 1 pilot car in rear)
- Over 150’-front and rear law enforcement escorts
- Over 15' 6” high- 1 pilot car in front w/ height pole
- Overhang in rear more than 5'- 1 rear pilot car
- Overhang in front more than 10'- 1 front pilot car
- For bulldozers & other construction equipment w/ blade intact that protrudes beyond the transporting vehicle: 1 escort (minimum)
- http://www.dot.state.al.us/business/permits/pdf/RulesAndRegulations.pdf
Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle
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- Lights: Must be equipped w/ a flashing or strobe amber lights
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- Signs: Mounted on front & rear or on roofline of any escort. Shall contain the wording “OVERSIZE LOAD”; 7’ x 18”; black letters 10” high w/ 1 .4”-1.5’” brush stroke on a yellow or orange background. Height /width may be modified to fit the vehicle while maintaining color scheme & letter size.
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- Additional equipment: Radio to allow communication between the pilot/escort and load
Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator
- Drivers of escort vehicles must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age, have a valid driver’s license, and have completed a pilot/escort flagging course which equals or exceeds Alabama’s course within twelve (12) months of Alabama’s course availability.
- Dept. of Transportation Permits Office- Office hours: 7am-4:45pm CT
- P.O. Box 303050
- Montgomery, AL 36130
- 800-499-2782 option 4
- Fax: (334) 832-9084