Pilot Car and Route Surveying Services in Oregon

Escort vehicles in the state must meet the following requirements:

• Oregon does not require a person to be certified to operate a pilot car. However, you must obtain a flagger’s license to control traffic. ODOT has an authorized flagger certification class at Chemeketa Community College. The class lasts about four hours. 
• Pilot cars can be passenger cars, pickups, or trucks of legal size and weight.
• Plot cars should be fitted with a 5’x10″  “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign with black letters (8″ high x 1″ minimum thickness) on a yellow background mounted on top of the vehicle. 
• Two amber strobing or flashing lights widely spaced with a minimum of 4″ diameter lens. They should have a minimum of 35 candlepower rating with about 30 rotations per minute or a revolving light with a minimum of 125 square inches of dome surface with at least 30 rotations per minute. It must be visible from 360 degrees and mounted above the vehicle roof. The minimum distance of visibility is 500′. 
• In addition, CB or two-way radio, two handheld red flags (a minimum of 18″ square) mounted on 3′ minimum staffs, eight safety flares, and at least two reflective triangles. You can learn more about pilot cars and escort requirements on the ODOT website.
•  In our professional opinion, all pilot cars and escort vehicle operators should also have two 5-pound fire extinguishers types A, B, and C, three reflective emergency road triangles or 18″ traffic cones, eight burning road flares, two OVERSIZE LOAD banners (yellow with black lettering), and a hard hat.