Skip to content
Permissible
Join

Pilot cars in Ontario

329 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 6 official sources.

Where to apply

Where an application for Pilot cars is submitted in Ontario.

  • Phone · Ministère des Transports

    Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone

    416 246-7166

    Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.

  • Phone · Ministère des Transports

    Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone (sans frais)

    1 800 387-7736

    Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.

  • Mail · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office

    Permit Issuing Office, by mail

    301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4

    Application forms must be completed in full. Incomplete applications will be returned.

  • In person · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office

    Permit Issuing Office

    301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4

  • Email · Ministry of Transportation

    Oversize/Overweight Permit Office, by email

    oo.permits@ontario.ca

    Use it when: For Permitting and Registration for International Registration Plan and Oversize/Overweight (PRIO) online permitting system account set up, tow truck certificate applications, special vehicle configuration permits or project permits

  • Fax · Ministry of Transportation

    Highway Operations Permits Office, by fax

    905-704-2545

    Use it when: Until January 1, 2026

    Download and complete an application form. Include payment (Canadian funds only) by visa or Mastercard using an authorization form, cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance, bank draft, money order or certified cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance.

Start with a question

Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.

General

40 topics

Load width requiring an escort (Measures)

Minimum overall width of the vehicle or load, in metres, at or above which at least one escort vehicle is required.

5 m16′ 5″

In general

  • 4 m13′ 1.5″Multi-lane highways
  • 4 m13′ 1.5″Multi-lane highways
  • 4 m13′ 1.5″Multi-lane route
  • 4 m13′ 1.5″Two lane highways

Overhang requiring an escort (Measures)

Minimum front or rear overhang of the load or vehicle beyond the main body, in metres, at or above which at least one escort vehicle is required.

  • 4.65 m15′ 3″Rear overhang
  • 4.65 m15′ 3″Rear overhang
  • 4.65 m15′ 3″Rear overhang

Load length requiring an escort (Measures)

Minimum overall length of the vehicle or load, in metres, at or above which at least one escort vehicle is required.

36.8 m120′ 7″

In general

  • 36.8 m120′ 7″In general
  • 45.8 m150′ 1″In general
  • 36.8 m120′ 7″In general

Escort vehicle required (Yes or no)

Whether at least one escort vehicle is required to accompany a vehicle or combination under the stated conditions.

Yesin 29 cases

  • Bulldozers with blades attached 4 m to 4.27 m in width; require a private escort warning vehicle
  • Height 4.87 m and greater; 1 escort vehicle (pole car) required
  • Height of 4.87 m and greater; 1 escort vehicle (in the lead position) required
  • Highway 144, from the point 20 km north of Highway 17, at Whitson Creek (Chelmsford), to the junction of Highways 144 and 101; loads with a width greater than 4.57 m; two Ontario Provincial Police vehicles are required, one in front of the load and one behind it

Load height requiring an escort (Measures)

Minimum overall height of the vehicle or load, in metres, at or above which at least one escort vehicle is required.

4.87 m15′ 11.5″

In general

  • 4.87 m15′ 11.5″In general
  • 4.87 m15′ 11.5″In general

Escort vehicle exemption conditions (In words)

Conditions under which an escort vehicle is not required, such as when the vehicle or load is within specified dimension or weight ranges, or when the vehicle is equipped with specified flashing lights on divided highways.

  • In general

    for widths from 2.61 m to 3.99 m

  • In general

    for lengths from 23.01 m to 36.75 m

  • In general

    for heights from 4.16 m to 4.86 m

  • In general

    The vehicle or load measures between 2.61 m and 3.99 m in width.

Conditions determining escort vehicle position (In words)

The conditions that determine whether the escort vehicle must precede, follow, or both precede and follow the escorted vehicle or convoy.

  • In general

    The private escort warning vehicle shall be required to precede the load on two lane highways or follow the load on multi-lane highways.

  • In general

    A second private escort warning vehicle is required to follow the load authorized by this permit while travelling on two lane highways.

  • In general

    rear overhang greater than 4.65 m - 1 escort vehicle required at the rear of load

  • In general

    A pilot escort vehicle equipped with a height pole 8 cm higher than the load must precede the load to ensure proper vertical clearances and communicate any obstructions to the driver of the permitted vehicle.

Police escort required (Yes or no)

Whether a police escort is required for the oversize or overweight movement.

Yesin 4 cases

  • Highway 144 from 20 km north of Highway 17 at Whitson Creek (Chelmsford) to the junction of Highway 144 and Highway 101, width between 4.00 and 4.56 metres
  • Highway 144 from 20 km north of Highway 17 at Whitson Creek (Chelmsford) to the junction of Highway 144 and Highway 101, width greater than 4.57 metres
  • Width between 4.00 and 4.56 metres on Highway 144 from 20 km north of Highway 17 at Whitson Creek (Chelmsford) to the junction of Highway 144 and Highway 101
  • Width greater than 4.57 metres on Highway 144 from 20 km north of Highway 17 at Whitson Creek (Chelmsford) to the junction of Highway 144 and Highway 101

Vehicle standards and equipment

22 topics Open Vehicle standards and equipment

Escort vehicle equipment required (In words)

Equipment that an escort vehicle must carry or display, such as flashing lights, reflectors, warning signs, flags, a fire extinguisher, traffic cones, spare bulbs, or a flashing arrow board.

  • In general

    a working two way radio communication device permitting direct communication between the vehicles

  • In general

    a fire extinguisher in effective working order, six 45 cm (18") traffic cones and/or portable reflectors approved by the MTO, and extra bulbs to maintain all lights required by this schedule

  • In general

    one or more flashing yellow warning lights placed on the roof of the escort vehicle

  • In general

    a " D " sign or a sign bearing the words " OVERSIZE LOAD "

Escort vehicle oversize load sign required (Yes or no)

Whether the escort vehicle must display signs with the words OVERSIZE LOAD either on the front and rear or on the roof facing both the front and back of the vehicle.

Yesin 4 cases

  • In general
  • In general
  • Certified Superload Escort vehicles
  • Certified Superload Escort vehicles

Escort vehicle certified escort sign required (Yes or no)

Whether the escort vehicle must display signs with the words Certified Escort on both sides and the rear.

Yesin 3 cases

  • In general
  • In general
  • Certified Superload Escort vehicles

Operator qualifications and certification

13 topics Open Operator qualifications and certification

Maximum accumulated demerit points for escort vehicle operators (Measures)

Maximum number of accumulated demerit points an escort vehicle operator may have and still be eligible for, or retain, certification or appointment.

6

In general

  • 6In general
  • 6Certified Superload Escort
  • 6Certified Superload Escort

Escort vehicle operator training course required (Yes or no)

Whether a person must successfully complete an approved escort vehicle operator training course before being certified or appointed.

Yesin 4 cases

  • In general
  • In general
  • Certified Superload Escort
  • Certified Superload Escort

Minimum years holding a driver's licence for escort vehicle operators (Measures)

Minimum number of years the driver of an escort vehicle must have held a valid driver's licence of the required class.

4 years

In general

  • 4 yearsIn general
  • 4 yearsCertified Superload Escort
  • 4 yearsCertified Superload Escort

Escort operating duties and traffic control

19 topics Open Escort operating duties and traffic control

Escort vehicle communication required (Yes or no)

Whether the escort vehicle driver must be able to communicate by two-way radio with the escorted vehicle, police, and other escort vehicles.

Yesin 3 cases

  • In general
  • In general
  • In general

Escort vehicle documents required (In words)

Documents that the escort vehicle driver must carry, such as a written copy of the permit information, the escort operator's certificate of nomination, or proof of certification.

certificate of appointment

Escort vehicle operator high-visibility garment required (Yes or no)

Whether the escort vehicle operator must wear a high-visibility garment meeting specified colour, stripe and reflectivity requirements while performing escort duties.

Yes

Oversize convoy arrangements

5 topics Open Oversize convoy arrangements

Convoy passing facilitation interval (Measures)

Maximum time interval, in minutes, after which drivers in a convoy must facilitate passing by other vehicles.

45 min

Convoy passing facilitation required (Yes or no)

Whether drivers in a convoy must facilitate passing by other vehicles at specified intervals or at the first safe opportunity.

Yes

Convoy authorization required (Yes or no)

Whether convoy travel must be expressly authorized by the permit.

Yesin 1 caseNoin 2 cases

  • In general
  • In general
  • In general

Where these facts come from