Pilot Car Regulations
Michigan Pilot Car Regulations
Guidelines for Michigan 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
Michigan permit office before you dispatch.
Road conditions
- 800-381-8477-Road conditions
- http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/LaneClosure/ (Construction/Lane closures)
- http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9622_11033_32060-98220--,00.html (Truckers map)
When Permit Is Needed
- Over 8'6" wide,
- Over 13'6" high,
- Trailer over 50' long,
- Over 80,000 lbs. On 5 axles
Special Information Needed
- Load description, object wt, from-to, route, object width, height, length, vehicle width, trailer length, overall width, height, length, rear overhang
Times Of Movement
- ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset; no weekend travel
- Travel prohibited on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day . Permit office closed on above holidays plus Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Veteran’s Day, the day after Thanksgiving Day and the day after Christmas.
- Movement not allowed from 7-9am & from 3-6pm in the following counties: Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Macomb, Oakland, Saginaw, Wayne & Westenau
When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required
- http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_MoveOS_OW_T2_92127_7.pdf
- Over 12' to 14' wide-1
- Over 14' wide-2 (front & rear)
- 90' to 100' long-1 rear
- Over 100'- 2 (front & rear)
- Over 14'5" high with high pole-1 front
- Over 15' high with high pole-2 (front & rear)
- Overhang over 15'-1 rear
Mobile Homes/Modular Loads:
- 12' to 14' wide-1 rear
Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle
- General: Passenger car or pickup truck
- Signs: “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign 5’ x 12” w/ black letters (8” high) on yellow background on roof of vehicle
- Lights: at least one flashing/rotating amber light on top of vehicle visible for 500’
- Flags: No stipulations
- Additional equipment: A height pole is required set at a height to assure clearance of the load if height of load exceeds 14’ 6”
Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator
- None stipulated
- Dept. of Transportation Permits Office- Hours: 7:30am-4:30pm ET;
- Dept. of Transportation
- P.O. Box 30050 (all correspondence)
- Lansing, MI 48909
- 7050 W. Saginaw, Ste. 2 (walk-in applications only)
- Lansing MI 48917
- (517)373-2120 (inquiries only)
- US Customs: Border crossing info.: Saulte Ste. Marie (906)632-2631;Detroit Tunnel (313)567-4422; Blue Water Bridge (810)984-3131; Ambassador Bridge (313)496-1111
- International Bridge Authority: Sault Ste. Marie (906)635-5255
- Mackinac Bridge Authority: St. Ignace (906)643-7600 (Must call 24 hrs. in advance of crossing)
- http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,107,7-151-9625_26039_29807---,00.html