Delaware Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Delaware? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 120,000 lb weight
GVW over 120,000 lb: DSP escort required.
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 120'0" length
Length 120' or greater: DSP escort required.
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 17'6" height
Height 17'6" or greater: DSP escort required.
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 15'0" width
Width over 15': Delaware State Police escort required in addition to civilian escorts.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 100'0" length
Length 100' or greater (under 120'): 2 civilian escorts required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 100'0" length
Length 100' or greater (under 120'): 2 civilian escorts required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 15'0" height
Height 15' or greater (under 17'6"): 2 civilian escorts required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 15'0" height
Height 15' or greater (under 17'6"): 2 civilian escorts required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width
Width over 14' (15' or less): 2 civilian escorts required (front + rear).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 14'0" width
Width over 14' (15' or less): 2 civilian escorts required (front + rear).
- Pilot car (front or rear)over 85'0" length
Length 85' or greater (under 100'): 1 civilian escort required.
- Pilot car (front or rear)over 12'0" width
Width over 12' (14' or less): 1 civilian escort required.
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 12'0" width
Permitted moves Mon–Fri sunrise to sunset only.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 12'0" width
No travel on weekends or state holidays (New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas).
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Delaware DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Delaware permit office before you move a load.
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