Pre Form - On Sticky Header

Pilot Car and Route Surveying Services Provider in Iowa

Shipping Quote - Homepage

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Services in Iowa

Wide Load Shipping offers timely pilot car services in Iowa and its neighboring states. Our services are easy to access, and we personalize them to fit each client’s needs. We handle both local and interstate oversized shipments. We conduct route surveys, handle the application of permits, and obtain letters of consent from utility companies. The state Department Of Transportation requires insurance covers of various amounts for both the pilot car and the load being escorted. Iowa has travel restrictions on oversized loads based on their dimensions. To best plan for your oversized load’s journey, you should engage the services of professionals. Wide Load Shipping has been guiding oversize loads in the state for over a decade, and our teams know the state’s regulations well. The penalties for not meeting regulations in Iowa can range from fines to travel bans. Pilot cars accompany oversized loads as a safety measure to prevent damage to public utilities. Over the years, we have successfully shipped over-dimensional loads of all shapes and sizes in Iowa. Some examples include manufactured home units, steel beams, bridge spans, large construction equipment, and aircraft parts. Book now to get started. 

icon of truck that hauls oversize equipment
Logo 04

When are Pilot Cars Required in Iowa?

  • Length: Loads between 80′ to 100′ must have revolving lights on the hauling vehicles. Loads over 120′ long require one rear escort vehicle. 
  • Width: On Primary Roads, loads over 12′ wide require one front escort vehicle. On two lanes, loads over 14′ require one rear escort vehicle. On four lanes, loads over 14’6″ require one rear pilot or escort vehicle.  On Interstates, loads over 16’6″  require one pilot car escort vehicle, which the proper lighting can substitute.
  • Height: Loads over 14’4 ” require one front pilot car escort vehicle with a height pole. For loads over 20 feet, no height pole is required. For loads over 16′ high, utility and power companies must be informed of the transport and provide representatives to accompany the load or provide the carrier with a clearance letter.
  • Overhang: Overhangs 10′ and over require flashing lights.
  • Weight: Loads over 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight require amber lights.

Iowa Pilot and Escort Vehicle Certifications

The following are the requirements pilot cars must meet to perform escort duties in Iowa;

  • In Iowa, the pilot and escort vehicles must be approximately the size of a normal pickup passenger car.
  • They must have an amber revolving light or strobe light that is at least 7″ tall and 7″ in diameter, with a minimum of 100-candle power and provides a 360-degree warning. The light should be mounted on top of the escort vehicle.
  • Each corner of the front bumper must have an 18″ square red warning flag. 
  • Escort vehicles must have roof or bumper-mounted “OVERSIZE LOAD” signs measuring at least 18″ x 7″ and written in black letters with an 11/2″ stroke on a yellow background.
  • For loads exceeding 14′ 4″, pilot cars must carry a nonmetallic height pole.
  • Pilot car drivers must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid Class A, B, C, or D driver’s license, and carry proof of public liability insurance for $100,000/ $200,000 /$50,000.

Get Your Wide Load Shipping Quote!

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

icon of extended double drop trailer

Step Deck Trailer

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

Max Weight: 48,000LBS

icon of step deck trailer

Removable Gooseneck Trailer (RGN)

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

Max Weight: 150,000LBS

RGN trailer Illustration

Flatbed Trailer

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

Max Weight: 48,000LBS

icon of flat bat trailer

Get Your FREE Oversize Shipping Estimate

Shipping Quote - Mid Page

Oversize Load Route Surveying Services in Iowa

Once you book our pilot car services, we conduct a route survey as a regulatory requirement and decide on the route that best fits your load. Route survey involves identifying and evaluating potential routes to validate their suitability for an oversized load. We consider road width, bridge weight limits, height clearances, and potential obstacles like traffic signals. Additionally, we evaluate detours and alternative paths to prepare for cases where the planned route is disrupted. In cases where police escorts are required, Wide Load Shipping engages the Iowa State Police Department to book escorts and pay any fees involved. The same applies to power and utility companies, which must be notified by law of oversized loads traveling close to their infrastructure. Some of the ideal highways for oversized transports in Iowa include;

  • Interstate 80 (I-80): It provides access to most of Iowa’s cities as it runs from east to west.
  • Interstate 35 (I-35): runs north-south of Iowa and connects several important regions. 
  • Interstate 29 (I-29): Runs along the western border of Iowa.
  • U.S. Route 20: One of the longest U.S. routes, spanning the state from east to west.
  • U.S. Route 63: A north-south highway connecting various cities with certain sections suitable for heavy hauls.

Contact Wide Load Shipping today for pilot car escort services in Iowa.