Indiana (IN) Pilot Car & Escort Vehicle Requirements

Escort requirements, travel restrictions, and signage rules for oversize/overweight loads in Indiana.

PCP - Pilot Cars & Permits provides professional pilot car escort services throughout Indiana. Whether you need a lead vehicle, chase car, or high pole escort, our certified pilots are available 24/7 across Indiana and all connecting states. We handle the coordination so your oversize load moves safely and on time.

Legal Dimensions — Indiana

Max Width
8'6"
Max Height
13'6"
Max Length
53'0"
Gross Weight
80,000 lbs
Front Overhang
3'0"
Rear Overhang
4'0"

Interstate Escort Requirements

Width

Min WidthMax Width EscortsPositionNotes
8'7" 12'4" 0 Permit required, no escort
12'5" 14'4" 1 Rear Rear escort on 4+ lane highways
14'5" 17'0" 2 Front + Rear
17'1" 20'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required

Height

Min HeightMax Height EscortsPositionNotes
13'7" 14'5" 0 Permit required, no escort
14'6" 15'0" 1 Rear 1 rear escort on 4-lane highways
Height pole required
15'1" 18'0" 1 Rear Utility clearance may be required. Utility company letter may be needed.
Height pole required

Length

Min LengthMax Length EscortsPositionNotes
53'1" 85'0" 0 Permit required, no escort
85'1" 130'0" 1 Rear 1 rear escort on 4-lane/interstate
130'1" 200'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required

Weight

Min WeightMax Weight EscortsPositionNotes
80,001 lbs 200,000 lbs 0 Permit required
200,001 lbs 250,000 lbs 2 Front + Rear 2 escorts required. Police escort NOT required if entirely on Interstate, no slowdowns, and under 250,000 lbs.
Route survey required
250,001 lbs 999,999 lbs 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required
Route survey required

Non-Interstate / State Road Escort Requirements

Width

Min WidthMax Width EscortsPositionNotes
8'7" 12'4" 0 Permit required, no escort
12'5" 14'4" 1 Front Front escort on 2-lane highways
14'5" 17'0" 2 Front + Rear
17'1" 20'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required

Height

Min HeightMax Height EscortsPositionNotes
13'7" 14'5" 0 Permit required
14'6" 15'0" 1 Front High pole required
Height pole required
15'1" 18'0" 1 Front Utility bucket truck required. Utility company letter may be needed for overhead line clearance.
Height pole required

Length

Min LengthMax Length EscortsPositionNotes
53'1" 85'0" 0 Permit required
85'1" 110'0" 1 Front
110'1" 130'0" 2 Front + Rear
130'1" 200'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required

Weight

Min WeightMax Weight EscortsPositionNotes
80,001 lbs 200,000 lbs 0 Permit required
200,001 lbs 250,000 lbs 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required on non-Interstate
Route survey required
250,001 lbs 999,999 lbs 2 Police Front + Rear Indiana State Police escort required
Route survey required

Travel Restrictions

Standard Hours
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
Night Travel
Loads under 10' wide and under 100' long may travel at night. Loads up to 110' long, 10' wide, 13'6" high, under 200,000 lbs: 24/7 access.
Weekend Travel
No travel from 12:00 PM Saturday through Sunday for loads over 10' wide. Loads 14'4" to 16' wide: Monday-Friday only.
Holiday Restrictions
No travel on major holidays and holiday weekends
Urban Restrictions
None specified statewide

Signage & Flag Requirements

Oversize Load Sign
Required on oversize loads
Flags
18" square flags at each corner and widest points
Additional Notes
Low-beam headlights required for all oversize loads during transit

Pilot Car Services in Indiana

PCP - Pilot Cars & Permits coordinates experienced pilot car operators throughout Indiana for both local and interstate moves. From a single-county delivery to a multi-state haul that begins or passes through Indiana, our team matches your load with the right escorts — lead cars, chase cars, high pole escorts, and steer cars — based on the dimension thresholds and travel rules outlined above.

Because oversize requirements change at every state line, we plan your route end to end so your equipment stays compliant from origin to destination. Our dispatchers handle scheduling, positioning, and communication with your drivers, keeping your oversize or overweight load moving safely and on time across Indiana and beyond.

Disclaimer: These regulations are for informational purposes only. Always verify with the Indiana Department of Transportation before moving any oversize/overweight load. Regulations change frequently.

Need a Pilot Car in Indiana?

Call us at (214) 550-7192 or order online. Our pilots are ready to escort your load anywhere in Indiana and beyond.