Minnesota Pilot Car Requirements
When Minnesota requires a pilot car, how many, and when a height pole car is needed. Set by MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits).
MN, reviewed October 2026
The short answer for Minnesota
Loads wider than 15 ft 0 in need a pilot car in Minnesota.
Minnesota asks for a first pilot car at 15 ft 0 in wide. 3 of the 45 states that publish a width wait until a wider load, and 40 start earlier; 1 more match it.
On multi-lane divided roads a certified rear escort is required over 15 ft wide (bottom) or 16 ft (top) or over 110 ft long, front and rear over 150 ft long; undivided roads need front and rear at 15 ft wide or 110 ft long.
Check your load for Minnesota
Oversize permit required in Minnesota
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Minnesota escort thresholds
| First pilot car | 15 ft 0 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Second pilot car | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
| Height-pole escort | Not confirmed: check your permit conditions |
| Length escort | 110 ft 0 in long and over |
Pilot cars by load width in Minnesota
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 | None required for width |
| 14 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 15 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
| 16 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
Before you book an escort
- Read the escort conditions on your Minnesota permit. They control over any summary, including this one.
- Ask about certification and insurance rules for escort drivers at MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits).
- See the full Minnesota 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 Minnesota with a neighbor: Iowa, South Dakota.
Sources
- https://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/oversize/index.html
- https://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/oversize/escorts.html
- https://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/oversize/holiday-schedule.html
- https://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/oversize/determine.html
- https://www.dot.state.mn.us/cvo/permits/GeneralProvisions.pdf
- https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/business/irp-and-ifta/irp-and-ifta-temporary-permits/irp-and-ifta-temporary-permit-types
Minnesota Pilot Car FAQs
- How wide can a load be in Minnesota before it needs a pilot car?
- Minnesota requires the first pilot car at 15 ft 0 in wide. Loads up to the 8 ft 6 in legal width travel without a width escort.
- When does Minnesota require a height pole car?
- Minnesota does not publish a single height at which a pole car is required in the sources we reviewed. Confirm it with MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits); permit conditions often set it per route.
- Is a pilot car required for long loads in Minnesota?
- Minnesota 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 Minnesota pilot car certification?
- Escort driver certification and reciprocity rules differ by state and change often. The permit conditions from MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OSOW Permits) 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 Minnesota'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 15 ft 0 in wide, reviewed October 2026. Regulations change and this is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.