Indiana Pilot Car Requirements
When Indiana requires a pilot car, how many, and when a height pole car is needed. Set by Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services (OSOW unit).
IN, reviewed October 2026
The short answer for Indiana
Loads wider than 12 ft 4 in need a pilot car in Indiana, and wider than 14 ft 4 in need two. A height-pole escort is required at 14 ft 6 in tall.
Indiana asks for a first pilot car at 12 ft 4 in wide. 23 of the 45 states that publish a width wait until a wider load, and 21 start earlier.
Escort required when exceeding 12'4" wide, 110 ft long or 14'6" high; front escort on undivided highway, rear on divided highway, front and rear when 14'4" to 17 ft wide on non-divided roads; height-stick escort in front over 14'6".
Check your load for Indiana
Oversize permit required in Indiana
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Indiana escort thresholds
| First pilot car | 12 ft 4 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Second pilot car | 14 ft 4 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 14 ft 6 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 110 ft 0 in long and over |
Pilot cars by load width in Indiana
Escorts to plan for at each width, from the thresholds above. The permit sets front and rear positions.
| Load width | Pilot cars |
|---|---|
| 8 ft 6 in (legal width) | None required for width |
| 9 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 10 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 11 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 12 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 13 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
| 14 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
| 15 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
| 16 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
Height pole by load height in Indiana
| Load height | Permit needed | Height pole car |
|---|---|---|
| 13 ft 6 in | No | Not required |
| 14 ft 0 in | Yes | Not required |
| 14 ft 6 in | Yes | Required |
| 15 ft 0 in | Yes | Required |
| 15 ft 6 in | Yes | Required |
| 16 ft 0 in | Yes | Required |
Before you book an escort
- Read the escort conditions on your Indiana permit. They control over any summary, including this one.
- Ask about certification and insurance rules for escort drivers at Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services (OSOW unit) (317-615-7200).
- See the full Indiana oversize guide for legal dimensions, travel hours and holiday limits. New to the terms? The glossary covers pilot car and height pole.
Crossing a border? Compare Indiana with a neighbor: Illinois, Ohio.
Indiana Pilot Car FAQs
- How wide can a load be in Indiana before it needs a pilot car?
- Indiana requires the first pilot car at 12 ft 4 in wide and a second at 14 ft 4 in wide. Loads up to the 8 ft 6 in legal width travel without a width escort.
- When does Indiana require a height pole car?
- A height-pole escort is required at 14 ft 6 in tall and over in Indiana. The pole is set just above the load so the escort driver finds low wires and structures first.
- Is a pilot car required for long loads in Indiana?
- Indiana lists a length trigger of 110 ft 0 in for an escort. Check the permit for how many escorts a long load needs.
- Do I need Indiana pilot car certification?
- Escort driver certification and reciprocity rules differ by state and change often. The permit conditions from Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services (OSOW unit) state who may escort a load, so confirm certification and insurance requirements there before you book an escort.
- Where do the pilot car numbers on this page come from?
- They are taken from Indiana's published permit rules and statutes, reviewed in October 2026, with the source links listed on this page. Where a figure could not be confirmed it is marked as not confirmed rather than estimated.
Summary of first pilot car at 12 ft 4 in wide, two at 14 ft 4 in, height pole at 14 ft 6 in, reviewed October 2026. Regulations change and this is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.