Escort requirements, travel restrictions, and signage rules for oversize/overweight loads in South Dakota.
PCP - Pilot Cars & Permits provides professional pilot car escort services throughout South Dakota. Whether you need a lead vehicle, chase car, or high pole escort, our certified pilots are available 24/7 across South Dakota and all connecting states. We handle the coordination so your oversize load moves safely and on time.
| Min Width | Max Width | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8'7" | 16'0" | 0 | — | Permit required; no escort up to 16' on interstate |
| 16'1" | 20'0" | 1 | Rear | 1 rear escort on interstate (divided) highways over 16' wide |
| Min Height | Max Height | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14'1" | 14'6" | 0 | — | Permit required; no mandatory escort below 14'6" |
| 14'7" | 16'6" | 1 | Front |
1 front escort with high pole over 14'6"; loads up to 16'6" may travel continuously on interstates per SD trucking handbook
Height pole required |
| 16'7" | 20'0" | 1 | Front |
1 front escort with high pole + utility coordination required
Height pole required |
| Min Length | Max Length | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75'1" | 130'0" | 0 | — | Permit required |
| 130'1" | 200'0" | 1 | Rear |
| Min Width | Max Width | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8'7" | 10'0" | 0 | — | Permit required |
| 10'1" | 20'0" | 0 | — | 1 front escort required in Black Hills area only (state highways, except US 16 Rapid City-Keystone Wye and US 18); no escort elsewhere up to 20' |
| 20'1" | 24'0" | 1 | Front | 1 front escort on 2-lane state highways over 20' wide; multiple escorts + flagpersons if load extends >2' into adjacent lane |
| Min Height | Max Height | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14'1" | 14'6" | 0 | — | Permit required; no mandatory escort below 14'6" |
| 14'7" | 16'6" | 1 | Front |
1 front escort with high pole over 14'6"; loads up to 16'6" may travel continuously on interstates per SD trucking handbook
Height pole required |
| 16'7" | 20'0" | 1 | Front |
1 front escort with high pole + utility coordination required
Height pole required |
| Min Length | Max Length | Escorts | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75'1" | 130'0" | 0 | — | Permit required |
| 130'1" | 200'0" | 1 | Front | 1 front escort on 2-lane highways for combinations over 130' |
PCP - Pilot Cars & Permits coordinates experienced pilot car operators throughout South Dakota for both local and interstate moves. From a single-county delivery to a multi-state haul that begins or passes through South Dakota, 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 South Dakota and beyond.