Oversize and overweight movements - Colorado

Escort car requirements

The permit holder is responsible for inspecting a pilot escort driver’s certification to ensure that it is valid and current.  

Pilot escort cars are required as follows:

Escort certification

Pilot escort drivers must be certified with the Colorado Department of Transportation. Colorado recognizes and accepts certifications from Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, and the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC & RA).

Pilot escort drivers must:

• Comply with all applicable traffic laws and with the permitting requirements when escorting a vehicle or load on a state highway;
• Be a minimum of 18 years of age;
• Possess a valid driver’s license for the state jurisdiction in which he/she resides;
• Possess current certificate(s) of insurance or endorsement(s) which indicates that the operator, or the operator’s employer, has in full force and effect insurance coverage(s) for bodily injury and/or property damage as a result of the operation of the escort vehicle, the escort vehicle operator, or both causing the bodily injury and/or property damage arising out of an act or omission by the pilot escort vehicle operator of the escort duties required by the rules; such insurance(s) or endorsement(s) must be no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit and/or $1,000,000 per occurrence of commercial liability coverage, as applicable, and must be maintained at all times during the term of the certification; the insurance certificate must indicate on the face of the document that the policy is for the operation of pilot escort vehicle(s) and pilot escort duties/responsibilities; and
• Provide a current (within 30 days) motor vehicle record in the state of current residence, for the immediate previous five year period, to the Pilot Escort Certification Program at the time of the course (the driving records must be clear of any conviction for drug or alcohol related offenses and not contain a single moving violation penalty assessment of six points or more). 

Pilot escort drivers must carry their certification card at all times while in pilot escort operations.

The initial certification is valid for four years from the date of issue. One additional four-year certification may be obtained through a recertification process provided by an authorized Pilot Escort Certification Program. It is the responsibility of the driver to maintain certification.

Escort drivers must have the following documents (or access to them electronically) when piloting a permitted vehicle:

• Valid certification card;
• Copy of the extra-legal rules;
• Bridge weight limit map;
• Pilot escort oversize restriction map;
• Height restriction map;
• Hazardous and nuclear materials map; and
• Proof of insurance.

Escort car signs, flags, and lights

Escort vehicles must also display WIDE LOAD, WIDE, LONG LOAD, LONG, OVERSIZE LOAD, or OVERSIZE signs as applicable that meet the following requirements:

• All signs must be a minimum of five feet wide, 10 inches high with one-inch wide brush stroke black letters at least 8 inches high on a yellow background (or a maximum of seven feet wide, 18 inches high, with a 1.41-inch brush stroke black letters a minimum of 10 inches high on a yellow background).
• The signs must be mounted on top of the pilot/escort vehicle clearly legible and readable by oncoming or overtaking traffic at all times.
• Pilot escort identification signs or placards must be displayed on the escort vehicle at all times while escorting an extra-legal vehicle or load. The sign or placard must appear on both sides of the escort vehicle, be lettering contrasting with the background, and be legible during daylight hours from a distance of 50 feet while the vehicle is stationary.
• All escort vehicles must be equipped with at two yellow or amber flashing lights (AAMVA-approved) mounted on each side of the top-mounted sign, or, an AAMVA-approved yellow or amber rotating, oscillating, or flashing beacon/light bar mounted on top of the pilot escort vehicle (incandescent, strobe, or diode (LED) lights may be used provided they meet the criteria).

Escort vehicles must also carry the following safety items:

• Standard 18-inch or 24-inch red/white STOP and black/orange SLOW paddle signs (construction zones require the 24-inch sign).
• At least three reflective bi-directional triangles or their equivalent.
• Eight red-burning flares, glow sticks, or equivalent illumination device.
• Three orange traffic cones all at least 18 inches high with a six-inch reflective collar.
• Flashlight with a minimum 1 ½-inch lens diameter, with extra batteries or charger (emergency type shake or crank will not be allowed).
• One six-inch minimum length red or orange cone flashlight to use when directing traffic.
• Orange or white hardhat and a Class 2 or 3 reflective high visibility safety vest for each person involved in pilot escort operations. Class 3 reflective vests are required for operations during hours of darkness.
• For front escort vehicle piloting loads greater than 16 feet high, a height-measuring pole with a non-conductive tip, made of non-destructive, flexible material (the height pole must not extend more than six inches above the maximum height of the load; when not escorting a vehicle, the height pole must be removed or shortened). Compression fittings must be accompanied by a secondary means of securement. Compression fittings alone are not allowed.
• One five-pound B.C. fire extinguisher or one 10-pound A.B.C. fire extinguisher for escorts of hazardous materials.
• At least two red or orange flags mounted on top of the vehicle at 45-degree angles and not extending more than six inches on either side of the vehicle.
• One spare OVERSIZE LOAD sign, a minimum of 5 feet wide by 10 inches high or a maximum of seven feet wide by 18 inches high.
• At least two handheld two-way radios or other form of communication.
• First aid kit, clearly marked as such.
• Serviceable spare tire, tire jack, and lug wrench.

When an escort vehicle is not escorting an extra-legal vehicle or load, signs must be removed or covered and lights must not be operated.