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Pilot Car and Route Surveying Services Provider in Illinois

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Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Services in Illinois

Moving oversized loads in every state requires pilot cars for legal and safety reasons. Wide Load Shipping has, for over a decade, been providing clients in Illinois with cost-effective pilot car services. Our pilot cars are licensed and certified and have the latest safety features. Our logistics specialists plan your load journey from pick up to delivery. Additionally, pilot cars, besides ensuring safety, help deal with unforeseen circumstances on the road, like road closures and poor weather. Our drivers have had time to master the local regulations, which helps them come up with solutions in such situations. You can use our services in Illinois for projects involving single or multiple oversized loads. Our portfolio of successful escorts includes construction and agricultural machinery, wind turbine blades, and industrial ovens, to name a few. Book now to get a free consultation.

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When are Pilot Cars Required in Illinois?

Pilot car requirements are based on a case-by-case evaluation as all areas differ. If your load exceeds any two dimensions, you are required to have an additional pilot car. For example, if you’re over 14′ 6″ tall and 14′ 6″ wide, you would be required to have two pilot cars.

The standard requirements in Illinois are;

  • Length: Loads over 110′ require a minimum of one pilot car and, in some places, two pilot cars due to higher traffic density or weather conditions during certain times of the year. You must have three pilot cars if over 145′ in length or 150′ in some rural areas. If over 175′ in length, a police escort will be required in addition to civilian escorts.
  • Width: Loads up to 14’6″ require one escort vehicle. Those over 16″require two, one front and one rear. Loads over 18 ′’ in width require a police escort and civilian escorts.  
  • Height: Loads up to 14′ 6″ high require one pilot vehicle, while those over 16′ require two escort vehicles. Loads over 18 ′’ in height will require a police escort in addition to the required civilian escorts.
  • Weight: There are no pilot car requirements for overweight loads as long as they maintain minimum speeds. However, on bridges, moves that require all other vehicle traffic to be stopped require an appropriate number of pilot cars, which is a minimum of two and possibly three plus state police escort. 

Required Pilot Car Certifications in Illinois

In Illinois, for a vehicle to be certified for pilot duties, it must meet the following criteria;

  • Cars, vans, or trucks may be used as pilot cars as long as the gross weight of the pilot car vehicle is rated at no more than 8,000 lbs. 
  • Pilot car drivers must be 18 years of age minimum and have a valid regular driver’s license. 
  • Pilot cars must have a rotating or flashing amber light mounted on the vehicle’s top.
  • They must display a red flag at all four outermost points of the vehicle and have “OVERSIZE LOAD” signs that are a minimum size of 5′ wide x 12″ tall and have black lettering no less than 8″ in height.
  • Pilot cars must have a two-way CB radio, and the driver must constantly communicate with them when transporting the shipment.
  • They should have $500,000 per occurrence combined insurance covering property and bodily injury.

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Haul your heavy load with the best transporters in the industry!

Transport Your Load On The Right Trailer With Us

Double Drop Deck Trailer

Max Dimensions: 29FT Length, 8.5FT Width, and 11.5FT Height

Max Weight: 45,000LBS

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Step Deck Trailer

Max Dimensions: 53FT Length, 8.5FT Width, and 11.5FT Height

Max Weight: 48,000LBS

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Removable Gooseneck Trailer (RGN)

Max Dimensions: 53FT Length, 8.5FT Width, and 11.6FT Height

Max Weight: 150,000LBS

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Flatbed Trailer

Max Dimensions: 53FT Length, 8.5FT Width, and 8.5FT Height

Max Weight: 48,000LBS

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Oversize Load Route Surveying Services in Illinois

At Wide Load Shipping, meeting customer deadlines is our number one priority. We conduct route surveys for each oversized load we ship to choose the most suitable routes. This process involves our specialists traveling the entirety of the roadway to be taken in a pilot car. We take note of a route’s traffic patterns, bridge speed, weight limits, height clearances, and any planned roadwork and road closures. It enables us to choose a route with the shortest permit wait periods and minimal interruptions. We also handle the necessary paperwork with the owners of overhead utilities and arrange for costs incurred when moving obstructing utilities. Some of the ideal routes in Illinois for oversized loads include

  • Interstate 55 (I-55): A major north-south route cutting across the state. 
  • Interstate 70 (I-70): Connects the east and west parts of the state.
  • Interstate 80 (I-80): Traversing the northern part of Illinois. 
  • Interstate 90 (I-90): Runs northeast to southwest of Illinois. 

Reach out today to book our efficient and timely pilot car services in Illinois.