District of Columbia Pilot Car Requirements

GVW over 120,000 lb: DDOT RECOMMENDS (does not require) a private pilot/escort vehicle operator — "a pilot/escort vehicle operator is recommended for any vehicle and load that exceeds: o 75' long o 12' wide o 13'6" high o 120,000 Lbs." NOT a police-escort trigger: DDOT's police tier is 150,000 lb or more. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

Length over 75': DDOT RECOMMENDS a private pilot/escort vehicle operator ("recommended for any vehicle and load that exceeds: o 75' long"). NOT a police-escort trigger. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

Width 15' or more: the applicant MUST contact the Metropolitan Police Department at [email protected] to determine whether a police escort is required. MPD escort is discretionary, not automatic — "Police escort may be required at the discretion of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)." Same contact duty applies to any hazmat load and any Class 1 Explosives Division 1.1/1.2/1.3 load. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

GVW 150,000 lb or more: the applicant MUST contact MPD at [email protected] to determine whether a police escort is required. MPD escort is discretionary, not automatic. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

Height over 14'6": the applicant MUST contact MPD at [email protected] — "When the vehicle exceeds 14'6" in height and may require a pole car escort." MPD escort is discretionary, not automatic. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

UNVERIFIED — 79,000 lb appears in no DDOT source. 80,000 lb is the PERMIT trigger ("Maximum gross vehicle weight: 80,000 pounds"), not an escort trigger; DDOT's escort weight trigger is over 120,000 lb. Retained only so the band is not silently empty. Confirm with the DDOT Public Space Permit Office (202) 442-4670 before relying.

Height over 13'6": DDOT RECOMMENDS a private pilot/escort vehicle operator ("recommended for any vehicle and load that exceeds: ... o 13'6" high"). (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

Height over 14': DDOT recommends a SECOND escort — "For loads over 14 feet in height, two P/EVO are recommended, one in front and the other behind." (DDOT Freight DC, Oversize/Overweight Vehicles.)

Width over 12': DDOT RECOMMENDS a private pilot/escort vehicle operator ("recommended for any vehicle and load that exceeds: ... o 12' wide"). DDOT's police-contact tier starts at 15' or more. (DDOT OS/OW FAQ.)

UNVERIFIED and MIS-KINDED — the 10' width trigger appears nowhere in DDOT material, and the restriction described (weekday rush hours, 7:00–9:30am and 4:00–6:30pm) is not a weekend/holiday restriction at all. Retained only as a prompt. Confirm the actual curfew with the DDOT Public Space Permit Office (202) 442-4670.

UNVERIFIED and SELF-CONTRADICTORY — no DDOT source supports a 10' trigger or these hours, and a 10pm–5am window is the OPPOSITE of daylight-only. Retained only as a prompt. Confirm the actual movement window with the DDOT Public Space Permit Office (202) 442-4670.