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Pilot Car Regulations

Illinois Pilot Car Regulations

Guidelines for Illinois 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 Illinois permit office before you dispatch.

Road conditions

When Permit Is Needed

  • Over 8' wide
  • Over 13'6" high
  • Trailer over 53' long

Special Information Needed

  • ICC # if for hire;
  • Single or round trip;
  • Mobile serial #

Times Of Movement

  • 1/2 hour before sunrise to a 1/2 hour after sunset Mon-Fri;
  • 1/2 hour before sunrise until noon on Sat;
  • No movement on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Permit office closed on those plus Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln;s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veteran’s Day & the day after Thanksgiving Day.

When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required

1 escort required:

  • For all moves that exceed 14'6" in width or 14'6" in height or 110’ in length

2 escorts required:

  • Moves that exceed 2 or more of the following: 110’ long or 14’ 6” wide & 14’ 6” high.

3 Escorts required:

  • Moves exceeding 16’ wide or 145’ long or 18’ high
  • All special haul rigs more than 150’ long
  • State Police escorts: call (217)786-7110 or (217)786-7107 24 hrs in advance
  • Moves exceeding 18’ wide, 200’ long, 18’high
  • For overweight moves where bridge restrictions require that all traffic be kept off of a structure while the permitted vehicle crosses. Must be set up at least 24 working hours before moving with the Central Office @ 217-782-6527
  • https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/IDOT-Forms/OPER/OPER%20993.pdf

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle

  • Insurance minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence combined bodily injury & property damage
  • General: passenger car or a second division vehicle not exceeding 8,000 lbs. GVW
  • Signs: 5’ x 12” w/ black letters 8” high (1.41” stroke) on yellow background --”OVERSIZE LOAD” mounted on front & rear bumper or on top of vehicle
  • Lights: 1 rotating or flashing light mounted on top
  • Flags: red flags (18” x 18”) at the extremities
  • Additional equipment: 2-way radio; height pole (required for loads 14’ 6” high or greater)

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator

  • 18 years of age or older w/ valid driver’s license
  • Dept. of Transportation Permits Office-Hours: 7:00am-5:00pm CT; Super load hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
  • Dept. of Transportation Cook County info: 312-443-5500
  • Permit Office City of Chicago info: 312-744-4696
  • 2300 S Dirksen Pkwy, Rm 117 State Police District 9: 217-786-7110
  • Springfield, IL 62764
  • 217-785-1477; 800-252-8636 (Illinois only)
  • E-mail request for information: dot.permitoffice@illinois.gov
  • Super load fax: 217-782-3572
  • https://idot.illinois.gov/doing-business/permits/Oversize-and-Overweight-Permits/index