Do Montana and Wyoming require pilot cars at the same width?

Wyoming requires a pilot car from 15 ft 0 in wide; Montana waits until 16 ft 6 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Wyoming only.

Is the legal truck height the same in Montana and Wyoming?

Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.

Do I need a separate permit for each state between Montana and Wyoming?

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS) and one from Wyoming Highway Patrol / WYDOT Commercial Carrier (Permits), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Which travel hours apply in Montana and Wyoming?

Montana: Interstate: 24 hours/7 days up to 18 ft wide. Non-interstate: 24 hours up to 10 ft wide, 150 ft long and 15'6" high; anything larger is daylight hours only. Wyoming: Daylight hours only, except legal-height, permitted, signed and lighted: single units 60-75 ft, combinations under 100 ft where the single unit exceeds 60 ft, and loads up to 10 ft wide on Interstates may move at night. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Montana vs Wyoming Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between Montana and Wyoming: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-90, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the Montana and Wyoming border

Legal height: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
First pilot car: Wyoming requires a pilot car from 15 ft 0 in wide; Montana waits until 16 ft 6 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Wyoming only.
Height pole: Montana sets a height-pole trigger at 17 ft 0 in; Wyoming does not publish one, so check the permit.

Check one load against both states

Load width (ft)

Load height (ft)

Montana

Oversize permit required
No width escort

Wyoming

Oversize permit required
No width escort

11 ft 0 in wide, 14 ft 0 in tall. Length is not checked here.

Side by side

Montana and Wyoming oversize load rules compared
Rule	Montana	Wyoming
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	14 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Legal length	Tractor with one trailer up to 53 ft needs no length permit regardless of overall length; single power unit 55 ft; single-trip oversize permit needed for loads over 75 ft long.	Single unit or semitrailer 60 ft; tractor with semitrailer/trailer combination 81 ft (48 ft semitrailer + 40 ft trailer max); any other combination 85 ft; maximum three single vehicles in a combination.
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	16 ft 6 in	15 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at	18 ft 0 in	Not confirmed
Height pole at	17 ft 0 in	Not confirmed
Length escort at	150 ft 0 in	110 ft 0 in
Travel hours	Interstate: 24 hours/7 days up to 18 ft wide. Non-interstate: 24 hours up to 10 ft wide, 150 ft long and 15'6" high; anything larger is daylight hours only.	Daylight hours only, except legal-height, permitted, signed and lighted: single units 60-75 ft, combinations under 100 ft where the single unit exceeds 60 ft, and loads up to 10 ft wide on Interstates may move at night.
Weekends	Interstate allowed up to 18 ft wide. Non-interstate loads over 18 ft wide, 150 ft long or 17 ft high may not travel on weekends.	No general weekend restriction stated on the WHP commercial carrier page; holiday weekends are restricted for loads needing escorts.
Trip permit	Fee not confirmed	$20.00
Permit office	406-444-7262 (Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS))	(307) 777-4376 (Wyoming Highway Patrol / WYDOT Commercial Carrier (Permits))

Go deeper

Pilot car detail: Montana, Wyoming
Full guides: Montana, Wyoming
Running through both without local plates? Estimate the trip permit cost
Moving over a holiday? Check holiday restrictions

Montana and Wyoming FAQs

Do Montana and Wyoming require pilot cars at the same width?: Wyoming requires a pilot car from 15 ft 0 in wide; Montana waits until 16 ft 6 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Wyoming only.
Is the legal truck height the same in Montana and Wyoming?: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between Montana and Wyoming?: Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS) and one from Wyoming Highway Patrol / WYDOT Commercial Carrier (Permits), each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in Montana and Wyoming?: Montana: Interstate: 24 hours/7 days up to 18 ft wide. Non-interstate: 24 hours up to 10 ft wide, 150 ft long and 15'6" high; anything larger is daylight hours only. Wyoming: Daylight hours only, except legal-height, permitted, signed and lighted: single units 60-75 ft, combinations under 100 ft where the single unit exceeds 60 ft, and loads up to 10 ft wide on Interstates may move at night. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Compiled from each state's published permit rules, reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.