Pilot Car and Route Surveying Services in North Carolina

Escort vehicles in the state of North Carolina must meet the following requirements: 

• Pilot cars and escort vehicles in North Carolina must be trucks with a load capacity of at least one-quarter ton but no more than 17,000 pounds or passenger vehicles of at least 2,000 pounds. Escort vehicles are not permitted to pull a trailer during operation. 
• Yellow signs, 18″ high, must be mounted on the bumper or roof reading “WIDE LOAD” or “OVERSIZE LOAD” in black 10″ x 1.5″ brush stroke lettering. They must be visible from the front or rear bumper, depending on the location of the escort vehicle. The sign should extend the entire width of the escort vehicle or bumper. 
• The top of the vehicle must have a rotating or strobe amber light, visible for at least 500′ in all directions by approaching traffic. Escort vehicle headlights must be on at all times during movement. A height pole indicator is required for front escort vehicles for over-height moves over 14’5″. 
• All pilot cars and escort vehicles must be equipped with a two-way CB radio, and contact must be maintained with the hauling vehicle’s driver and other escort drivers.
• Other requirements include an octagonal “STOP”/” SLOW” paddle sign at least 18″ x18″ with 6″ high letters, an orange, yellow, or yellow-green high-visibility vest, shirt, or coat to be worn while flagging, at least three bi-directional retro-reflective triangles with minimum 17″ arm length and minimum arm width of 2″, a sign (minimum of 8″ x 12″ that is legible during daylight hours from a distance of 50′ displayed on each side of escort vehicle, and a five-lb type “BC” or “ABC” fire extinguisher. 
• Escort vehicle operators should have their certificate card while escorting a permitted load.