West Virginia Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in West Virginia? 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 100'1" length
Length over 100': 1 front + 1 rear (both lane types), Mon–Fri only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 100'1" length
Length over 100': 1 front + 1 rear, Mon–Fri only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 95'1" length
Length 95'1"–100': 1 front + 1 rear (2-lane); 1 rear (4-lane), Mon–Fri only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 75'0" length
Length 75'–95': 1 rear (2-lane, Mon–Fri); no escort (4-lane, 7 days).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 15'1" width
Width 15'1"–16': 2 front + 1 rear (2-lane); over 16' case-by-case Sunday only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 15'1" width
Width 15'1"–16': 2 front + 1 rear (2-lane); 1 front + 2 rear (4-lane).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 14'1" width
Width 14'1"–15': 1 front + 1 rear (both lane types), Mon–Fri only.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 14'1" width
Width 14'1"–15': 1 front + 1 rear, Mon–Fri only.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 12'1" width
Width 12'1"–14': 1 front + 1 rear (2-lane, 7 days); 1 rear only (4-lane, 7 days).
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 12'1" width
Width 12'1"–14': front + rear (2-lane); rear only (4-lane).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 10'6" width
Width 10'6"–12': 1 front escort (2-lane, 7 days); no escort (4-lane, 7 days).
- Height-pole escortover 15'0" height
Height over 15': 1 front escort with height pole required (Mon–Fri, both lane types).
- Lead (front) pilot carover 10'0" front overhang front overhang
Front overhang over 10': 1 front escort required, Mon–Fri.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 10'0" rear overhang rear overhang
Rear overhang over 10': 1 rear escort required, Mon–Fri.
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 8'6" width
Oversize loads: sunrise–sunset only. 14' or narrower / 75' or shorter / 10' overhang or shorter / 14' or shorter high may travel 7 days. Over 14' wide: Mon–Fri only.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 14'0" width
Over 14' wide restricted to Mon–Fri. WV Turnpike allows weekend travel only for 95' or shorter, 15' or shorter combined overhang, 14'6" or shorter high, and 110,000 lb or lighter GVW.
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Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published West Virginia DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the West Virginia permit office before you move a load.
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