Mississippi Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Mississippi? 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 16 ft width
Width over 16 ft: 1 front + 1 rear civilian escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 16 ft width
Width over 16 ft: 1 front + 1 rear civilian escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 13 ft width
Width over 13 ft (up to 16 ft): 1 rear escort required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 120 ft length
Length over 120 ft: 1 front + 1 rear escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 120 ft length
Length over 120 ft: 1 front + 1 rear escort required.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 99 ft length
Length over 99 ft (up to 120 ft): 1 rear escort required.
- Pilot car (front or rear)over 15 ft front overhang
Front projection 15 ft or greater: 1 front and/or 1 rear escort required per permit conditions.
- Pilot car (front or rear)over 15 ft rear overhang
Rear overhang 15 ft or greater: 1 front and/or 1 rear escort required per permit conditions.
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 8'6" width
Travel restricted Mon–Sat 1/2 hr after sunrise to 1/2 hr before sunset. No Sunday travel.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 8'6" width
No Sunday travel. No travel after noon preceding New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Mississippi DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Mississippi permit office before you move a load.
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