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Yukon Pilot Cars / Escort Vechicle Requirements

When Escort Vehicles are Required and Overdimensional Vehicle Warning Devices 

When a vehicle is being driven under the authority of an overdimensional permit and the widest part of the vehicle is:

(a) more than 2.6 metres wide, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices:

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m.

(b) more than 3.04 metres wide, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices: 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway at not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m, and 
  • “Overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle.

(c) more than 3.2 metres wide, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “Overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • one escort vehicle traveling in front of the overdimensional vehicle.

(d) more than 3.8 metres wide, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • two escort vehicles, one traveling in front of and one traveling at the rear of the overdimensional vehicle.

(e) more than 4.9 m. wide, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, 
  • two escort vehicles, one traveling in front of and one traveling at the rear of the overdimensional vehicle, and 
  • a Yukon Government Carrier Compliance vehicle, if required by the overdimensional permit. 

When a vehicle is being driven under the authority of an overdimensional permit and the length of the vehicle is 

(a) more than 25 metres long, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices  

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle,
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m.

(b) more than 27.5 metres long, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices as specified in Schedule 3 and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • one escort vehicle traveling at the rear of the overdimensional vehicle. 

(c) more than 36 m. long, the vehicle must be equipped with the following warning devices and a manned steering trailer and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, 
  • two escort vehicles, one traveling in front of and one traveling at the rear of the overdimensional vehicle, and
  • a manned steering trailer to be equipped with windshield, windshield wipers and washers, heater and defrost system, and two way radio communication. 

When a vehicle is operating under the authority of an overdimensional permit and the height of the vehicle is such that overhead wires must be moved, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle, 
  • one escort vehicle traveling in front of the overdimensional vehicle. 

When a vehicle is being driven under the authority of an overdimensional permit with respect to load extension and the front projection is more than 3 metres beyond the kingpin or more than 6.5 metres beyond the vehicle turn center to the front of the vehicle, or the rear projection is more than 6.5 metres from the center of the rear axle, the vehicle shall be equipped with the following warning devices and be escorted as follows 

  • one or more 360 degree amber warning lights mounted on top of the transporting vehicle, and 
  • square red flags during daylight or clearance lights when required to provide visibility if atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 m., 
  • “overdimensional” signs mounted on both the front and rear of the transporting vehicle,
  • one escort vehicle traveling in front of the overdimensional vehicle.

If a vehicle is operating under the authority of an overdimensional permit for any combination of length, width, and height, or load extension, the highest level of warning devices and escort vehicle requirements is required. 

The permit may specify conditions requiring additional warning devices, escort vehicles, or the presence of an officer, or specify the route of travel, or restrict the period of travel to particular days or hours of the day for reasons of public safety. 

Escort vehicles 

  1. Escort vehicles must be motor vehicles of a registered gross vehicle weight not exceeding 6,000 kilograms. 
  2. Escort vehicles must be equipped with signs and lights in good repair and clearly visible. 
  3. Escort vehicles must meet the requirements for safety equipment and lights, travelling distance, and radio communications.
  4. No person shall drive on a highway, a motor vehicle displaying a sign indicating the presence of an overdimensional vehicle or load when an overdimensional vehicle is not being escorted. 

Visibility of Overdimensional Vehicles 

If a permit is required for a vehicle in respect of the width of the vehicle, either loaded or unloaded, there shall be conspicuously displayed, at the extreme edges of the vehicle or the load, 

  • square red flags during daylight hours; and 
  • clearance lights when the natural light or atmospheric conditions are such that objects on the highway are not plainly visible at a distance of 90 metres. 

If one or more escort vehicles is required, the escorted vehicle shall be moved only during the period between one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. 

Vehicles over 3.2 metres wide and up to 4.4 metres wide may be escorted at any time of day or night on 

  • the Alaska Highway from the B.C./Yukon border at kilometre 1008 to Whitehorse; 
  • the South Klondike Highway (#2); 
  • the Haines Road (#3); 
  • the North Klondike Highway; 
  • the Dempster Highway from kilometre 0 to the Yukon/NWT border. 

Overdimensional vehicles shall be moved at night when required by the Minister 

  • for reasons of public safety, or 
  • in order to avoid undue delay to other road users. 

If the overdimensional vehicle is moved at night, it must be accompanied by one or more Carrier Compliance vehicles approved by the Minister. 


Source of information: http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/regs/oic2002_174.pdf 

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