Hawaii Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Hawaii? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 18'0" width
Second (rear) pilot car required when width exceeds 18' on state highways. Lead+chase both required (HAR §19-120.1).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 16'0" width
Front pilot car required for widths over 16' on state highways (HAR §19-120.1). County roads may have lower thresholds — verify with county DPW.
- Height-pole escortover 15'0" height
Lead pilot must carry height-clearance pole for loads over 15' tall on state highways (HAR §19-120.5).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 100'0" length
Escort required for combinations over 100' overall length on state highways (HRS §291C-133).
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Hawaii DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Hawaii permit office before you move a load.
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