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Pilot Car Regulations

Minnesota Pilot Car Regulations

Guidelines for Minnesota 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 Minnesota permit office before you dispatch.

Road conditions

When Permit Is Needed

  • Over 8'6" wide
  • Over 13'6" high
  • Trailer over 53' long
  • Over 80,000 lbs.

Special Information Needed

  • Fax # near MN
  • Truck make, empty weight, license, & state
  • MN registered weight
  • Trailermake, dimensions, empty weight, license
  • Load info, serial #, net weight
  • Are you for hire?
  • What can stretched trailer be reduced to?
  • King pin setting for o/w or long trailers

Times Of Movement

2am until 10pm daily

  • During summer months no travel from 2:00 pm on Fri. to sunrise on Sat
  • No travel on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Main Fishing Opener, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. No travel 2:00 pm the day before a holiday till sunrise the day after the holiday or the holiday weekend
  • No movement after 2pm on Fridays, and Sundays, starting w/ the Memorial Day weekend through the Labor Day weekend
  • No move in Duluth from 7:30am -8:30am & 4pm-5:30pm.
  • Permit office closed on the above holidays plus Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Veteran’s Day, and the day after Thanksgiving

When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required

On 2-Lane Highways:

  • Width of 14'6" to 16' on single lane- 2 pilots minimum,

On multi-lane divided highways:

  • Width of 14'6" to 16'-1 pilots minimum

On All Highways:

  • Over 16' wide-2 pilots minimum
  • 95' to 110' long-1 pilots minimum
  • Over 110' long-2 pilots minimum
  • Over 15'6" high-survey required

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle

  • General: may be a passenger car, station wagon or pickup truck
  • Signs: "Wide Load" or "Long Load" sign shall be displayed on top of the escort vehicle. Minimum 12" x 60"; black letters (8” high; 1 1/8” stroke) on
  • yellow background. Signs shall not extend beyond the line of the fenders on the left side nor more than 6 inches beyond the fender line on the right side of the escort vehicles.
  • Lights: Single or dual amber light mounted at the top or sides of the sign (at least 5’ above road surface) shall flash at a rate of 60-90 flashes/minute; mau be disc or strobe type or rotating beacon; visible/readable from 500’. Must be lighted for nighttime travel.
  • Flags: None stipulated
  • Additional equipment: 2-way radio

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator

  • The escort vehicle driver shall be not less than 18 years of age.
  • Dept. of Transportation Permits Office- Hours: 7:30am-4:20pm CT; M-F
  • Minnesota Truck Center
  • GNB Bldg., Ste. 420
  • 1110 Centre Points Curve
  • Mendota Heights, MN 56120
  • (800)657-3959; (651)405-6000
  • Fax: (651)405-6024
  • http://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/permits/permitbulletin.pdf