Utah Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Utah? 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 175'0" length
One state police escort required for lengths over 175'. Two police escorts required for lengths over 200' (R909-2-24).
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 17'6" height
State police escort required for loads over 17'6" tall on secondary roads, and on all roads per permit conditions (R909-2-24).
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 17'0" width
State police escort required on secondary roads for widths over 17'. Required on all highways for widths over 20'. Combined width+height extremes may also trigger (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 120'0" length
Two pilots (lead+chase) required for lengths over 120' on secondary roads. Same threshold applies on divided/Interstate for non-divisible loads (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 105'0" length
One pilot required on secondary roads for lengths over 105'. On divided/Interstate, one pilot required at lengths over 120' (R909-2-24).
- Height-pole escortover 16'0" height
Two pilots required for heights over 16' on all highways. Lead pilot must carry height-clearance pole (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 16'0" width
Two pilots (lead+chase) required on divided highways when width exceeds 16'. On secondary roads, lead+chase required at widths over 14' (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width
One pilot required on divided/Interstate for widths over 14'. On secondary roads, one pilot required at widths over 12'. Lead position typical (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 20'0" front overhang front overhang
Front pilot required when front overhang exceeds 20'. Position matches overhang side (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 20'0" rear overhang rear overhang
Rear pilot required when rear overhang exceeds 20'. Independent of overall length triggers (R909-2-24).
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 12'0" width
Loads over 14'6"H, 12'W, 105'L, or 10' front/rear overhang restricted to daylight hours per R909-2-15. Nighttime travel requires 2 pilots on Interstate for widths over 12'.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 10'0" width
Loads over 10' wide prohibited on Christmas, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving. Holiday window begins noon of preceding day (R909-2-15).
Driver & inspection requirements
- Certified escort driver requiredover 12'0" width
UDOT certification required for all escort vehicle operators. Reciprocal with AZ, CO, FL, GA, MN, NC, OK, VA, WA (R909-2-15).
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Utah DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Utah permit office before you move a load.
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