New Jersey Pilot Car Requirements

When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in New Jersey? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.

✓ Cross-checked against the state sourceNew Jersey permit source →

Escort & pilot car requirements

  • Lead (front) pilot carover 120'0" length

    Front AND rear pilot required for overall lengths over 120' on all routes (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11(b)).

  • Chase (rear) pilot carover 120'0" length

    Front AND rear pilot required for overall lengths over 120' on all routes (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11(b)).

  • Lead (front) pilot carover 100'0" length

    Front pilot required for overall lengths over 100' on 2-lane highways (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11).

  • Chase (rear) pilot carover 100'0" length

    Rear pilot required for overall lengths over 100' on 4+ lane highways (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11).

  • Lead (front) pilot carover 16'0" width

    Front AND rear pilot required for widths over 16' on all routes (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11(b)).

  • Chase (rear) pilot carover 16'0" width

    Front AND rear pilot required for widths over 16' on all routes (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11(b)).

  • Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width

    Front pilot car required for widths over 14' on 2-lane highways (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11).

  • Chase (rear) pilot carover 14'0" width

    Rear pilot car required for widths over 14' on 4+ lane highways (N.J.A.C. 13:18-1.11).

  • Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" height

    Front pilot required for heights over 14' on 2-lane highways per N.J.A.C. 13:18.

Travel restrictions

  • Daylight-only travelover 8'6" width

    Oversize movement: sunrise–sunset; Saturday until noon. No Sunday travel (N.J.A.C. 13:18).

  • Weekend / holiday restrictionover 8'6" width

    No movement on New Year's, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Memorial Day/Labor Day blackouts extend to preceding Friday.

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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published New Jersey DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the New Jersey permit office before you move a load.

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