Utah Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Utah? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 175'0" length
One state police escort required for lengths over 175'. Two police escorts required for lengths over 200' (R909-2-24).
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 17'6" height
State police escort required for loads over 17'6" tall on secondary roads, and on all roads per permit conditions (R909-2-24).
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 17'0" width
State police escort required on secondary roads for widths over 17'. Required on all highways for widths over 20'. Combined width+height extremes may also trigger (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 120'0" length
Two pilots (lead+chase) required for lengths over 120' on secondary roads. Same threshold applies on divided/Interstate for non-divisible loads (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 105'0" length
One pilot required on secondary roads for lengths over 105'. On divided/Interstate, one pilot required at lengths over 120' (R909-2-24).
- Height-pole escortover 16'0" height
Two pilots required for heights over 16' on all highways. Lead pilot must carry height-clearance pole (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 16'0" width
Two pilots (lead+chase) required on divided highways when width exceeds 16'. On secondary roads, lead+chase required at widths over 14' (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14'0" width
One pilot required on divided/Interstate for widths over 14'. On secondary roads, one pilot required at widths over 12'. Lead position typical (R909-2-24).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 20'0" front overhang front overhang
Front pilot required when front overhang exceeds 20'. Position matches overhang side (R909-2-24).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 20'0" rear overhang rear overhang
Rear pilot required when rear overhang exceeds 20'. Independent of overall length triggers (R909-2-24).
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 12'0" width
Loads over 14'6"H, 12'W, 105'L, or 10' front/rear overhang restricted to daylight hours per R909-2-15. Nighttime travel requires 2 pilots on Interstate for widths over 12'.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 10'0" width
Loads over 10' wide prohibited on Christmas, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving. Holiday window begins noon of preceding day (R909-2-15).
Driver & inspection requirements
- Certified escort driver requiredover 12'0" width
UDOT certification required for all escort vehicle operators. Reciprocal with AZ, CO, FL, GA, MN, NC, OK, VA, WA (R909-2-15).
Need a pilot car in Utah? See what a Utah pilot car costs →
Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Utah DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Utah permit office before you move a load.
Need a pilot car in Utah?
AmberLight is matching verified escort operators with oversize carriers across Utah. Join the waitlist and we'll reach out as we open in your area.
Join the waitlist