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Pilot Car Regulations

Missouri Pilot Car Regulations

Guidelines for Missouri 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 Missouri permit office before you dispatch.

Road conditions

When Permit Is Needed

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

Special Information Needed

  • Model & serial #- trailer & load length
  • Permit must be faxed to a dedicated fax line

Times Of Movement

  • 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset except in metropolitan and tourist areas
  • Travel permitted all day Saturday. No Sunday movement.
  • Travel restrictions on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas (restrictions begin at noon of the weekday before the holiday and lifts the day after--overweight travel restriction lifted at 12:01am/overdimension travel restriction lifted 30 minutes before sunrise)

When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required

A. On 2-lane & undivided highways:

  • 12'4" to 14' wide: 2 lane-1 front
  • 12'4" to 14' wide (off designated highways)-2 (front & rear)
  • 14' to 16' wide- 2 (front & rear)
  • Over 90' for a combo unit on all highways except divided-1 rear
  • Over 15'6” high (& route survey)-1 w/height pole

B. On interstate & divided multi-lane highways:

  • 12'4" to 16' wide-1 rear
  • Over 15’6” high (& route survey)-1 w/height pole
  • C. Superloads: (Exceeding 16” wide, 16” high, 150” long and/or 160,000 lb.GW) If over 17’5” high must have written approval from the appropriate utility company showing approval to disturb lines across route. No movement from 6:30am-9am & 3:30pm-6pm.
  • State Highway Patrol: 1 front + 1 rear civilian
  • On 2-lane highways if load exceeds 16’ wide-1 front+ 2 rear civilian
  • When load exceeds 16’ wide on any highway other than interstate/18’ wide on interstate/150’ overall length

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle

  • General: a properly licensed automobile, pickup truck, utility vehicle, station wagon or equivalent covered by at least minimum amount of insurance required by law
  • Signs: “OVERSIZE” load signs shall be displayed on the front and/or rear of the escort vehicle, whichever is applicable for the move. A
  • sign mounted on the top of the vehicle with printing on both sides is acceptable. Signs are to be a minimum size of 5’ x 1’; minimum 8” high letters. The sign’s background shall be yellow with black lettering and visible for at least three hundred feet (300’).
  • Lights:
  • Flags: at least 2 red/orange fluorescent warning flags mounted on a staff at the 2 front extremities of the vehicle for a front escort; at the rear extremities for a rear escort.
  • Additional equipment: height pole; 2-way radio

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator

  • Operators of escort vehicles shall be properly licensed, obey all traffic laws and be at least 18 years of age.

Dept. of Transportation Permits Office

  • Missouri DOT
  • Motor Carrier Services
  • OS/OW Permit Section
  • 1320 Creek Trail Dr or P.O. Box 893
  • Jefferson City, MO 65102-0893
  • (866)831-6277;(573)751-7100
  • Fax: (573)751-7408
  • http://www.modot.org/