Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Oklahoma

Width exemption

Pole trailers 80 inches or more in overall width are exempt from the ordinary rules for clearance lamps, side markers, and reflectors.

Pole trailer lighting and reflector requirements

Every pole trailer must be equipped:

• On each side, with one red or amber side marker lamp and one amber clearance lamp, which may be in combination, to show to the front, side and rear; and
• On the rear of the pole trailer or load, with two red reflex reflectors, one at each side located at the same level and as widely spaced laterally and as near the top as practicable, but not less than 15 inches above the surface of the road.

Overhang lighting and reflector requirements

Whenever the load upon any vehicle extends to the rear four feet or more beyond the bed or body of such vehicle, there must be displayed at the extreme rear end of the load:

• Two red lights and two red reflectors positioned to indicate maximum width; and
• One red light facing each side positioned to indicate maximum overhang.

The required lights and reflectors may be mounted in combination on each side of the vehicle and must be visible from 1,000 feet. At any other time, there must be displayed at the extreme rear end of such load a red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square and so hung that the entire area is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the rear.

Public utility services

Poles and gas lines used to maintain public utility services, but not new construction, may be moved during daylight hours, and during nighttime hours only in an “emergency”, subject to traffic and road restrictions, when the overall length does not exceed 80 feet. If more than 80 feet in length, these loads are subject to the requirements of 47 Okl. St. 14-118.

Oversize load / Annual fleet permits

The DOT may issue an annual fleet permit to an electric utility, regulated by the Corporation Commission or a rural electric cooperative solely for the movement of poles. An annual fleet permit may be used by any vehicle in the fleet provided that a certified copy of the permit is carried in the vehicle. Oversize loads operating under an annual permit must not exceed:

• 12 feet in width,
• 14 feet in height, or
• 55 feet in length.

The fee for an annual fleet permit is $4,000 and is nonrefundable.

Key definitions

The term "emergency" means any permitted movement of poles that is not for new construction of electric distribution facilities.

Pole trailer: Every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.