Do you need a pilot car in Montana?

In Montana, a police / law-enforcement escort is required over 20'0" width; a chase (rear) pilot car is required over 16'0" width; a height-pole escort is required over 15'0" height; a lead (front) pilot car is required over 14'0" width; a chase (rear) pilot car is required over 105'0" length; a lead (front) pilot car is required over 85'0" length. Always confirm with the Montana permit office, as thresholds change and permits can impose case-by-case conditions.

Montana Pilot Car Requirements

When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Montana? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.

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Escort & pilot car requirements

Police / law-enforcement escortover 20'0" width
Montana Highway Patrol escort required for widths over 20' or as specified in permit conditions (ARM 18.8.1602).
Chase (rear) pilot carover 16'0" width
Rear pilot car added when width exceeds 16'. Lead+chase both required on all route types (ARM 18.8.1602).
Height-pole escortover 15'0" height
Front pilot car must carry height-clearance pole for loads over 15' tall (ARM 18.8.1601).
Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width
Front pilot car required on 2-lane highways for widths over 14'. On divided/Interstate, pilot required at same threshold (ARM 18.8.1602).
Chase (rear) pilot carover 105'0" length
Rear pilot added at lengths over 105' on all highways; lead+chase both required (ARM 18.8.1605).
Lead (front) pilot carover 85'0" length
Front pilot required on 2-lane roads for overall lengths over 85' (ARM 18.8.1605).

Travel restrictions

Daylight-only travelover 14'0" width
Loads over 14' wide restricted to daylight hours (1/2 hr after sunrise to 1/2 hr before sunset). Night movement requires special permit endorsement (ARM 18.8.1601).
Weekend / holiday restrictionover 14'0" width
No movement on New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Restrictions begin noon preceding day for loads over 14' wide (ARM 18.8.1601).

Driver & inspection requirements

Certified escort driver requiredover 14'0" width
Montana escort vehicle operators must be certified through MDT's escort certification program (ARM 18.8.1601).

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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Montana DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Montana permit office before you move a load.

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