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Pilot Car and Route Surveying Services in Rhode Island

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Rhode Island Pilot Car Services

Wide Load Shipping offers unmatched pilot car services in Rhode Island. Our services cover both local and out-of-state shipments. We pick up loads from across the state and plan their journey in detail to ensure compliance with regulations. Our world-class legal department has over a decade of experience with local and State regulations. We handle the acquisition of permits, insurance, and police escorts. With our services, you can rest easily knowing that every part of the process is handled.  Pilot cars are deployed as a safety measure to ensure other motorists maintain the correct follow distances and prevent damage to road infrastructure. They can either lead or follow the load depending on permit mandates. Rhode Island is the smallest of the states and offers unique challenges to oversize shipments. Some of the loads we move in the State include boats, construction equipment, steel beams, and bridge spans—book now for a free consultation.

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When Are Pilot Cars Required in Rhode Island?

  • Length: If the load is 75′ to 95′ on a 2-load road, you will need one rear pilot car (escort).
  • Width: 10′ 6″ to 12′ wide on a 2-lane road requires one front pilot car. On a 4-lane road, up to 12′ wide, requires no escorts. When the load is 12′ 1″ to 14′ wide, one front and one rear pilot car (escort) are required on all 2-lane roads and one rear on all 4-lane roads. For loads 14′ 1″ – 15′ wide, one front and one rear pilot car (escort) are required. 15′ 1″ to 16′ wide on two lanes requires two front pilot cars (escorts) and one rear pilot car (escort). One front and two rear pilot cars (escorts) are required on four all-lane roads. 
  • Height: A front high pole card is required if the load height exceeds 15′.
  • Weight: Check with the State to see if your weight class will require a pilot car/escort.
  • Overhang: If the front overhang is over ten ′ on two or 4-lane roads, one front pilot car (escort) is required. If the rear overhang exceeds ten ′ on a two- or 4-lane road, one rear escort is required.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements in Rhode Island

Escort and pilot vehicles in Rhode Island must be certified and comply with the following:

  • All pilot cars/escort vehicles must display a bumper or roof-mounted “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle. The sign must be at least 5′ long and 12″ in height, yellow with black letters no less than 10″ tall and 1 1/2″ in width. 
  • The vehicle must have two safety flags, red or orange, and be a minimum of 18″ in length and height mounted at a 40 to 70-degree angle on all four corners of the vehicle. 
  • Company identification signs must be placed on both sides of the pilot car (escort vehicle) displaying the company’s name and phone number and on both the vehicle’s left and right-hand sides. These signs must be no less than 8″ tall x 12″ wide, and identity writing must be legible.
  • The vehicle must be equipped with a horizontally mounted rotating (or strobe) amber-colored flashing light, visible from a 360-degree angle from a minimum of 500 feet.
  • Vehicles must be equipped with a CB radio or 2-way communication device, 2 – 5 pound fire extinguishers type A, B, and C, a sign with the word “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other with dimensions of no less than 18″ in diameter with a minimum of 6″ letters. 

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Transport with the Right Trailer

With our dedicated agents, you can trust that you’ll have the right trailer every time, ensuring your shipment arrives on time and intact.

Double Drop Deck Trailer

Max dimensions:

29FT Length | 8.5FT Width |11.5FT Height

Max Weight:

45,000LBS

Step Deck Trailer

Max Dimensions:

53FT Length | ° 8.5FT Width | 11.5FT Height

Max Weight:

48,000LBS

Removable Gooseneck Trailer

Max Dimensions:

29FT Length | 8.5FT Width |11.5FT Height

Max Weight:

45,000LBS

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Oversize Load Route Surveying Services in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s small and congested nature makes moving over-dimensional loads in the State difficult. Getting stuck in the State’s narrow and windy roads is easy without proper route planning. Wide Load Shipping utilizes experienced specialists and route surveying tools to plan for your load’s journey. Route surveying involves scouting a route for any factors that could challenge the movement of heavy hauls. Some overweight loads may require a completed route survey, which is attached to the permit application. These surveys also inform us of the number and type of escort vehicles required for the load. Some suitable routes for over-dimensional loads in the State are:

  • Interstate 95 (I-95): Main north-south highway connecting major cities like Providence and Warwick.
  • Interstate 295 (I-295): Bypass around Providence; perfect for avoiding city congestion.
  • Route 146: Key north-south route connecting Providence to Massachusetts.
  • Route 4: Main route to southern Rhode Island and Quonset Point.

Reach out to Wide Load Shipping today for a free price estimate.