Michigan Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Michigan? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Lead (front) pilot carover 100'0" length
Front + rear pilot cars required for combinations over 100' overall length.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 90'0" length
Rear pilot car required for combinations 90'–100' overall length.
- Height-pole escortover 15'0" height
Front + rear pilot cars required above 15'; front escort with height pole required at 14'5"–15'.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width
Front + rear pilot cars required for widths over 14' (R. 247.167). Rear only for 12'–14'.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 12'0" width
Rear pilot car required when width is 12'–14' (R. 247.167); front added above 14'.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 15'0" rear overhang rear overhang
Rear pilot car required when rear overhang exceeds 15'.
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 12'0" width
Sunrise-to-sunset travel only on weekdays; no weekend travel when width exceeds 12' or height exceeds 14'.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 12'0" width
No travel on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Michigan DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Michigan permit office before you move a load.
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