Wyoming Pilot Cars / Escort Vechicle Requirements

When Escort Vehicles are Required

Escorts for Width: Escorts shall be required on two lane primary and secondary routes when any portion of the vehicle or load extends to the left of the highway centerline or the movement is 14' or greater in width. Escorts shall be required on interstate and divided highways and four lane roadways with a left turn center lane when the movement is 15' or greater in width. The Wyoming Highway Patrol may require additional escorts depending on load width.

Escorts for Length: On two lane primary and secondary routes, escorts shall be required for movements 110' or more in overall length or for movements that will extend to the left of the centerline at any time during the movement. On interstate and divided highways, escorts for length will be required at the discretion of the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Escort for rear overhang: One escort to the rear shall be required for rear overhang of 25' feet or more on all highways.

Escort for Height: Any movement 17' or higher will be required an escort vehicle to the front with a height-measuring device on all highways. Escorts for heights less than 17' will be at the discretion of the permit issuing authority.

Escorts for Overweight: Any overweight movement with special restrictions imposed by the Bridge Department shall require a rear escort on all highways. An addition escort to the front may be required on primary and secondary highways.

Escort Equipment Requirements

The following requirements are the minimum equipment needed for escorting oversize and/or overweight movements:

Escort Vehicles: Escort vehicles shall be licensed, single-motor vehicles. Motorcycles shall not be allowed to serve as escort vehicles.

Flashing Lights: Escort vehicles shall display a lighted, revolving and flashing amber light; an amber strobe light; or a pair of 2-way flashing amber lights mounted on top the vehicle. The lights shall be at least 4 inches in diameter and be clearly visible at least 500 feet from the front and rear of the vehicle.

Signs: Escort vehicles shall display warning signs visible to approaching traffic that read OVERSIZE LOAD. The signs shall have a yellow background and be at least 60 inches wide by10 inches high, with black letters at least 8 inches high, and painted in 1-inch wide brush strokes. The signs shall be kept clean, shall be fully visible, and shall not cover lights on the vehicle. Signs shall not be displayed except when the vehicle is actually escorting an oversize load.

Flags: Escort vehicles shall conspicuously display red or fluorescent orange flags mounted on a staff at each end of the oversize load sign. Flags shall be at least 12 inches square.

Headlights: Headlights and taillights on escort vehicles shall be lighted and visible during movement.

Communications: Escorted vehicles and escort vehicles shall be equipped with 2-way radios capable of transmitting and receiving at all times. Cellular telephones do not meet this requirement.

Warning and Safety Devices: Escort vehicles shall be equipped with emergency triangles, extra oversize load sign(s) and flag(s), and a fire extinguisher with a minimum 5 pound capacity and a BC (flammable liquids and electrical equipment) multi-class rating.

Escort and towing vehicles shall not display oversize load signs or use flashing lights except during an approved, permitted movement of an oversize or overweight load.

Escort Procedures

The following procedures shall be mandatory minimum requirements for all escorted moves:

Speed limit: Speed limits imposed by the permit issuing authority shall govern all escorted moves, but in no event shall such moves exceed the legal or posted speed limit. Speed limits shall be obeyed by the escorting vehicles as well as the permitted movement.

Route: All movements shall be made on highways designated on the permit. Alternate routes shall no be used without prior approval by a permit issuing authority.

Time of Movement: All escorted moves shall be made during daylight hours and the times specified on the permit. Class C permits holders shall make all movements possible during the hours of minimum highway travel.

Weather: Escorted movements may be restricted during inclement weather or on ice and/or snow covered highways. Inclement weather includes rain, fog, snow, ice, and high wind conditions.

Traffic: Escorted movements shall be conducted with a minimum of impediment to other highway users. Escorted movements shall move to the highway shoulder whenever vehicular traffic behind the movements becomes congested and shall remain off the main traveled portion of the roadway until the following traffic has cleared.

Obstacles: Escorted movements approaching narrow bridges or other obstacles that pose potential hazards shall be halted when safety dictates and removed from the traveled way until the escort vehicle proceeds past the obstacle and halts approaching traffic. The escorted movement may proceed past the obstacle when safe to do so.

Minimum number of escorts: Escorts shall be provided to the front and the rear of movements on primary and secondary highways and to the rear on Interstate and divided highways. Escorts shall maintain a distance of approximately 1000 feet from the oversize load, unless a shorter distance is necessary to provide control over the movement. 

Two oversize loads, each requiring escorts, may be authorized by proper permit issuing authority to travel together on a two-lane highway maintaining a distance of approximately 1000 feet apart. One escort in front of the first load and one escort behind the second load shall be maintained at a distance of approximately 1000 feet, unless a shorter distance is necessary to provide control over the movement. On Intestate or four-lane highways, one escort to the rear of the second load will be maintained.

A third oversize load requiring escorts cannot travel with a group of two oversize loads, but must remain at a minimum distance of one-half mile from the group and must also have its own escorts.

A convoy of four oversize loads requiring escorts may be authorized to travel in two groups separated by a distance of at least one-half mile. Each group must have their own escorts.

Emergency moves after daylight hours requiring escorts will not be allowed to convoy.

When movements are confined to four-lane divided highways, and a segment of one lane is closed for repairs and the other lane is being used for two-way traffic, additional escorts may be required if a special hazard exists or the movement cannot be kept to the right of the centerline.

Movements requiring escorts using the interstate highways and intervening two-lane highways will need one escort for the interstate and two for the two-lane highways.

Parking: Drivers of the escort vehicles shall insure that escorted movements do not park on the main traveled portion or the shoulder of the highway unless it becomes necessary in an emergency, or to properly pass an obstacle. Should it be necessary to park an oversize movement due to an emergency, the load will be adequately protected by flagmen, flares, an escort vehicle, or other suitable warning devices.

Source of information: http://www.whp.dot.state.wy.us/home/size_and_weight/escort-information.html