Texas Pilot Car Requirements
When Texas requires a pilot car, how many, and when a height pole car is needed. Set by TxDMV Motor Carrier Division.
TX, reviewed October 2026
The short answer for Texas
Loads wider than 14 ft 0 in need a pilot car in Texas, and wider than 16 ft 0 in need two. A height-pole escort is required at 17 ft 0 in tall.
Texas asks for a first pilot car at 14 ft 0 in wide. 6 of the 45 states that publish a width wait until a wider load, and 29 start earlier; 9 more match it.
Over 14 ft to 16 ft wide: one escort (front on two-lane, rear on multi-lane); over 16 ft: front and rear. Over 17 ft high: front escort with height pole; over 18 ft: front and rear. Over 110 ft long: one escort; over 125 ft: two.
Check your load for Texas
Oversize permit required in Texas
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Texas escort thresholds
| First pilot car | 14 ft 0 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Second pilot car | 16 ft 0 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 17 ft 0 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 110 ft 0 in long and over |
Pilot cars by load width in Texas
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 | 1 pilot car |
| 15 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
| 16 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
Height pole by load height in Texas
| 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 Texas permit. They control over any summary, including this one.
- Ask about certification and insurance rules for escort drivers at TxDMV Motor Carrier Division ((800) 299-1700).
- See the full Texas 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 Texas with a neighbor: Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma.
Sources
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/escort-and-equipment-requirements
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/holiday-movement-restrictions
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle/temporary-registration
- https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/fuels/trip-permits.php
- https://www.tmcec.com/public/files/File/Course%20Materials/FY12/One%20Day%20Clinics/TxDOT%20Motor%20Carrier%20Handbook%20-%20Oversize%20Overweight%20Vehicles%20and%20Loads.pdf
Texas Pilot Car FAQs
- How wide can a load be in Texas before it needs a pilot car?
- Texas requires the first pilot car at 14 ft 0 in wide and a second at 16 ft 0 in wide. Loads up to the 8 ft 6 in legal width travel without a width escort.
- When does Texas require a height pole car?
- A height-pole escort is required at 17 ft 0 in tall and over in Texas. 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 Texas?
- Texas 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 Texas pilot car certification?
- Escort driver certification and reciprocity rules differ by state and change often. The permit conditions from TxDMV Motor Carrier Division 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 Texas'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 14 ft 0 in wide, two at 16 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.