Kentucky Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Kentucky? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Lead (front) pilot carover 120 ft length
Length over 120 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 2 rear. On 4+-lane: 1 front + 2 rear + dolly.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 120 ft length
Length over 120 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 2 rear. On 4+-lane: 1 front + 2 rear + dolly.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 110 ft length
Length over 110 ft on 4+-lane: 1 rear escort required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 85 ft length
Over 85 ft up to 120 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 1 rear escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 85 ft length
Over 85 ft up to 120 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 1 rear.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 75 ft length
Over 75 ft up to 85 ft on 2-lane: 1 front escort required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 16 ft width
Over 16 ft wide: 2 front + 2 rear escorts required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 16 ft width
Over 16 ft wide: 2 front + 2 rear escorts required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14 ft width
Over 14 ft wide on 4+-lane: 1 front + 1 rear escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 14 ft width
Over 14 ft wide on 4+-lane: 1 front + 1 rear escort required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 12 ft width
Over 12 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 1 rear. Over 12 ft on 4+-lane: 1 rear only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 12 ft width
Over 12 ft on 2-lane: 1 front + 1 rear. Over 12 ft on 4+-lane: 1 rear only.
- Height-pole escortover 14'11" height
Height over 14'11": 1 front escort with height pole required. Route survey required for heights over 15'6".
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 10 ft rear overhang
Rear overhang over 10 ft on 4+-lane highways: 1 rear escort required.
Driver & inspection requirements
- Pre-trip inspectionover 15'6" height
Route survey required for all loads exceeding 15'6" in height prior to movement.
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Kentucky DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Kentucky permit office before you move a load.
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