Montana Pilot Car Requirements
When Montana requires a pilot car, how many, and when a height pole car is needed. Set by Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS).
MT, reviewed October 2026
The short answer for Montana
Loads wider than 16 ft 6 in need a pilot car in Montana, and wider than 18 ft 0 in need two. A height-pole escort is required at 17 ft 0 in tall.
Montana asks for a first pilot car at 16 ft 6 in wide. 0 of the 45 states that publish a width wait until a wider load, and 44 start earlier.
Interstate: one rear pilot over 16'6" wide and two rear pilots over 18'; non-interstate: one front pilot over 12'6" wide, front and rear over 16'6", more at 18'+; height pole front pilot over 17' high; rear pilot over 150' long (non-interstate).
Check your load for Montana
Oversize permit required in Montana
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Montana escort thresholds
| First pilot car | 16 ft 6 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Second pilot car | 18 ft 0 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 17 ft 0 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 150 ft 0 in long and over |
Pilot cars by load width in Montana
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 | None required for width |
| 16 ft 0 in | None required for width |
Height pole by load height in Montana
| Load height | Permit needed | Height pole car |
|---|---|---|
| 13 ft 6 in | No | Not required |
| 14 ft 0 in | No | Not required |
| 14 ft 6 in | Yes | Not required |
| 15 ft 0 in | Yes | Not required |
| 15 ft 6 in | Yes | Not required |
| 16 ft 0 in | Yes | Not required |
Before you book an escort
- Read the escort conditions on your Montana permit. They control over any summary, including this one.
- Ask about certification and insurance rules for escort drivers at Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS) (406-444-7262).
- See the full Montana 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 Montana with a neighbor: Idaho, Wyoming.
Montana Pilot Car FAQs
- How wide can a load be in Montana before it needs a pilot car?
- Montana requires the first pilot car at 16 ft 6 in wide and a second at 18 ft 0 in wide. Loads up to the 8 ft 6 in legal width travel without a width escort.
- When does Montana require a height pole car?
- A height-pole escort is required at 17 ft 0 in tall and over in Montana. 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 Montana?
- Montana lists a length trigger of 150 ft 0 in for an escort. Check the permit for how many escorts a long load needs.
- Do I need Montana pilot car certification?
- Escort driver certification and reciprocity rules differ by state and change often. The permit conditions from Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services (MCS) 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 Montana'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 16 ft 6 in wide, two at 18 ft 0 in, height pole at 17 ft 0 in, reviewed October 2026. Regulations change and this is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.