Pennsylvania (PA) Pilot Car & Escort Vehicle Requirements

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

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

Legal Dimensions — Pennsylvania

Max Width
8'6"
Max Height
13'6"
Max Length
70'0"
Gross Weight
80,000 lbs
Front Overhang
3'0"
Rear Overhang
4'0"

Interstate Escort Requirements

Width

Min WidthMax Width EscortsPositionNotes
8'7" 13'0" 0 Permit required, no escort
13'1" 14'6" 1 Rear 1 follow escort on multi-lane highways (67 Pa Code §179.10)
14'7" 16'0" 2 Front + Rear
16'1" 20'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Police escort required

Height

Min HeightMax Height EscortsPositionNotes
13'7" 14'6" 0 Permit required
14'7" 20'0" 1 Front 1 lead escort with high pole, precede 1,000-3,000 ft on all highways (67 Pa Code §179.10); route survey required
Height pole required

Length

Min LengthMax Length EscortsPositionNotes
70'1" 90'0" 0 Permit required
90'1" 120'0" 1 Rear 1 follow escort on all highways over 90'; on 2-lane with width over 13' = front + rear (67 Pa Code §179.10)
120'1" 160'0" 2 Front + Rear
160'1" 200'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Super load: State Police escort required at 160'+ length (67 Pa Code §179.10)

Overhang

Min OverhangMax Overhang EscortsPositionNotes
15'1" 30'0" 1 Rear

Weight

Min WeightMax Weight EscortsPositionNotes
201,001 lbs 999,999 lbs 2 Police Front + Rear Police escort required
Route survey required

Non-Interstate / State Road Escort Requirements

Width

Min WidthMax Width EscortsPositionNotes
8'7" 13'0" 0 Permit required
13'1" 14'6" 1 Front 1 follow escort on multi-lane; precede on 2-lane (67 Pa Code §179.10)
14'7" 16'0" 2 Front + Rear
16'1" 20'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Police escort required

Height

Min HeightMax Height EscortsPositionNotes
13'7" 14'6" 0 Permit required
14'7" 20'0" 1 Front 1 lead escort with high pole, precede 1,000-3,000 ft on all highways (67 Pa Code §179.10); route survey required
Height pole required

Length

Min LengthMax Length EscortsPositionNotes
70'1" 90'0" 0 Permit required
90'1" 120'0" 1 Rear 1 follow escort on all highways over 90'; on 2-lane with width over 13' = front + rear (67 Pa Code §179.10)
120'1" 160'0" 2 Front + Rear
160'1" 200'0" 2 Police Front + Rear Super load: State Police escort required at 160'+ length (67 Pa Code §179.10)

Overhang

Min OverhangMax Overhang EscortsPositionNotes
15'1" 30'0" 1 Rear

Weight

Min WeightMax Weight EscortsPositionNotes
201,001 lbs 999,999 lbs 2 Police Front + Rear Police escort required
Route survey required

Travel Restrictions

Standard Hours
Daylight hours
Night Travel
Restricted
Weekend Travel
Restricted
Holiday Restrictions
No travel on major holidays
Urban Restrictions
PA Turnpike: permits when over 10' wide, over 85' long, over 13'6" H, over 120,000 lbs. Over 11' wide or 90'+ long or 15'+ rear overhang = pilot car on Turnpike.

Signage & Flag Requirements

Oversize Load Sign
Required on oversize loads
Flags
Standard flags at extremities

Pilot Car Services in Pennsylvania

PCP - Pilot Cars & Permits coordinates experienced pilot car operators throughout Pennsylvania for both local and interstate moves. From a single-county delivery to a multi-state haul that begins or passes through Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania and beyond.

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

Need a Pilot Car in Pennsylvania?

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