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Pilot Car Regulations

West Virginia Pilot Car Regulations

Guidelines for West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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

  • Overhang; mfg. model/serial of load; driver name; if mobile home, wt. of load

Times Of Movement

  • Sunrise-sunset for vehicles 14’ or less, 75’ or less long, 10’ or less overhand, 14’ or less high 7 days a week
  • Travel only on Interstate or APD routes w/ dimensions less than 14’ wide, 95’ long, 15’ overhang, 14’6” high sunrise-sunset, 7 days/week
  • Oversize vehicles exceeding these dimensions up to & including 16’ wide can travel sunrise-sunset, M-F
  • Oversize vehicles exceeding 16’ wide may only travel on Sunday mornings
  • Overweight vehicles up to & including 110,000lbs. may travel 24/7
  • Overweight exceeding 110,000lbs. can travel sunrise-sunset, M-F
  • May run Sat. & Sun., but must be requested when permit is ordered
  • Restricted holidays: New Years Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas

When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required

On 2-Lane Highways:

  • Width over 10'6" to 12’-1 front, 7 days
  • Over 12' to 14’ wide-2 (front & rear), 7 days
  • Over 14’ to 15' wide-2 (front & rear) M-F
  • Over 15’ to 16’ wide-3 (2 front & 1 rear)
  • Width over 16'-as required by permit-Sunday (must be accompanied by WV DOT),
  • Length over 75'-95’ -1 rear, M-F
  • Over 95' long to 100’-2 (front & rear), M-F
  • Over 100’ long-2 (front & rear), M-F
  • Overhang over 10' (front)-1 front, M-F
  • Overhang over 10' (rear)-1 rear, M-F
  • Height over 15'-1 front w/pole in addition to any other escort

4 Or More Lane Highways:

  • Width over 12’ to 14'-1 rear, 7 days
  • Width over 14' to 15’-2 (front & rear), M-F (except WV Parkway Authority: M-Th & Sun. until noon; no movement Fri.)
  • Width over 15' to 16’-3 (1 front & 2 rear), same as above
  • Width over 16'-same as 2-lane except over 16’ not allowed on Parkway
  • Length over 95'-100’-1 rear, M-F
  • Length over 100'-2 (front & rear), M-F
  • Overhang over 10' (front)-1 front, M-F
  • Overhang over 10' (rear)-1 rear, M-F
  • Height over 15’-1 front w/ pole in addition to other pilots required (Parkway (I-77/64) Yeager Bridge-max. height 15’10”)

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle

  • Signs: signs/placards (min. 8” x 12”) showing name of company or owner or driver (also, phone #) in a conspicuous place on both sides of vehicle
  • Lights: Rotating/strobe amber plastic or acrylic or glass covered flashing light—visible at least 500’ & 360o
  • Bumper mounted or roof mounted “Oversize Load” signs: 5’ x 12” black letter 10” high, 1½” wide brush strokes visible front & rear
  • Flags: 2 flags (red or safety orange), 18” square; mounted 40o-70o angle on vehicle’s roof racks or on all four corners of the vehicle
  • Additional equipment: CB radio or any other two-way communication device
  • 2 5lb. fire extinguishers (type A,B,C)
  • “Stop”/”Slow” sign w/ paddle not less than 18” in diameter w/ 6“ letters
  • Safety orange vest/shirt/jacket to wear when directing traffic
  • Red hand-held flag (18”)
  • 2 “Oversize Load” banners (yellow w/ black letters)
  • 3 reflecting triangles or 18” traffic cones
  • Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator N/A
  • Dept. of Transportation Permits Office-Hours: 7:30am-4pm; ET
  • Dept. of Transportation
  • Permit Supervisor
  • Bldg 5, Room A-337
  • 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E
  • Charleston, WV 25305
  • (304)558-0384; fax: (304)558-0591
  • http://www.wvdot.com/3_roadways/3_files/permitinformation.doc
  • http://www.wvdot.com/3_roadways/3d11e_haulingpermits.htm