Missouri Pilot Car Requirements

MO State Highway Patrol escort required on divided highways for widths over 18' (25.020(9)).

MO State Highway Patrol escort required when height exceeds 17'.

MO State Highway Patrol escort required on 2-lane undivided highways for widths over 16'.

MO State Highway Patrol escort required when overall length exceeds 150'.

Front + rear civilian escorts required on all road types when width exceeds 14' (25.020(9)).

Rear civilian escort once a COMBINATION unit exceeds 110' — but NOT on divided highways, where the trigger is 125'. Verbatim: "Overlength. A rear escort is required for movements when the vehicle and load exceed one hundred ten feet (110') for a combination unit on all highways except divided highways or when the vehicle and load exceed one hundred twenty-five feet (125') for a combination unit on all highways" (7 CSR 10-25.030(8)(G)2). EXCLUSIVE. SCOPE WARNING added 2026-09-14: this entry fires at 110'1" on every route because the engine has no road-class input, so between 110'1" and 125'0" on a DIVIDED highway it OVERSTATES what Missouri requires.

HEIGHT DETECTION VEHICLE required above 15'6" — that is Missouri's own term for it (7 CSR 10-25). It must PRECEDE the overheight load, carry a vertical clearance detection device, and hold direct, continuous, uninterrupted two-way communication with the power unit (7 CSR 10-25 (9)(G)3). It satisfies any front escort requirement except where multiple front escorts are prescribed. Separately, over 17' high requires written utility-company approval to disturb aerial lines ((15)(C)) and triggers a State Highway Patrol escort.

Width over 12'6": 1 front civilian escort on 2-lane roads. Verbatim: "Overwidth. Escorts are required for loads exceeding twelve feet, six inches (12'6") in width" (7 CSR 10-25.030(8)(G)1). EXCLUSIVE — a load measuring exactly 12'6" needs no escort, so the threshold is deliberately LEFT at FT(12,6). DETAIL CORRECTED 2026-09-14: the previous band wording implied 12'6" itself triggered, and invented a 14' upper bound that is not in this subsection.

Width over 12'6": 1 rear civilian escort on divided roads. Verbatim: "Overwidth. Escorts are required for loads exceeding twelve feet, six inches (12'6") in width" (7 CSR 10-25.030(8)(G)1). EXCLUSIVE — a load measuring exactly 12'6" needs no escort, so the threshold is deliberately LEFT at FT(12,6). DETAIL CORRECTED 2026-09-14: the previous band wording implied 12'6" itself triggered, and invented a 14' upper bound that is not in this subsection.

Sunrise-to-sunset travel only when width exceeds 12'6"; no Sunday travel statewide.

No Sunday travel. No holiday travel on New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.