Pilot cars in New York
109 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 7 official sources.
Where to apply
Where an application for Pilot cars is submitted in New York.
Mail · Department of Motor Vehicles
Bus and Vehicle Escort Driver Certification Unit
Bus and Vehicle Escort Driver Certification Unit Department of Motor Vehicles Room 22CC Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12228
Use it when: Change of address or name
Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles, in writing, within ten days. Send your certificate number, your former address/name and your new address/name.
Mail · Department of Motor Vehicles
Bus and Vehicle Escort Driver Certification Unit
Bus and Vehicle Escort Driver Certification Unit Department of Motor Vehicles Room 220C Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12228
Use it when: Replacement certificate
You must send your name, address, driver's license number, social security number, and certificate number, if available. Send your request and a check for $5 (payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles).
Mail
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles 207 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13501
Use it when: Renewal
To renew your certification, you must send your renewal application, with a check for $40 (payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles) and a photocopy of your valid driver license.
Start with a question
Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.
General
45 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.
12′3.66 m
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.
10′3.05 m
Two-lane highways
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.
80′24.4 m
Two-lane highways
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 3 cases
- Two-lane highways, vehicle/load exceeds 12 feet wide, and/or 80 feet long or greater and/or height of 14 feet or greater, or overhang greater than 10 feet; A front escort vehicle will be required
- Vehicle/load meets the criteria of (b) and (c) above dictate a front and rear escort; Two escort vehicles are required
- Vehicle/load over 16 feet wide on two-lane highways, 18 feet wide or greater on four-lane highways, or 100 feet long or greater on two-lane highways, 160 feet long or greater on four-lane highways; Three escort vehicles (two front, one rear) are required
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.
14′4.27 m
Two-lane highways
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
A front escort vehicle will be required for travel on all two-lane highways when the vehicle/load exceeds 12 feet wide, and/or 80 feet long or greater and/or height of 14 feet or greater, or where the overhang is greater than 10 feet.
In general
Two escort vehicles are required for travel whenever the vehicle/load meets the criteria of (b) and (c) above dictate a front and rear escort.
Police escort required (Yes or no)
Whether a police escort is required for the oversize or overweight movement.
Yesin 4 cases
- Overall height of the vehicle/load is 16 feet or greater
- Vehicle/load exceeds 16 feet in width
- Vehicle/load exceeds 160 feet in length, or 200 feet in length on a NYS Thruway controlled highway
- Vehicle/load exceeds 200,000 pounds or the vehicle must cross the centerline of a structure
Number of escort vehicles required (Measures)
Total number of escort vehicles required to accompany the oversize or overweight vehicle or combination.
- 1Two-lane highways, vehicle/load exceeds 12 feet wide, and/or 80 feet long or greater and/or height of 14 feet or greater, or overhang greater than 10 feet
- 2Vehicle/load meets the criteria of (b) and (c) above dictate a front and rear escort
- 3Vehicle/load over 16 feet wide on two-lane highways, 18 feet wide or greater on four-lane highways, or 100 feet long or greater on two-lane highways, 160 feet long or greater on four-lane highways
Vehicle standards and equipment
8 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
Three emergency triangles and/or flares. Triangles must be in accordance with FMVSS 571.125.
In general
An ANSI 3 standards vest.
In general
A stop paddle.
In general
Two 18-inch-by-18-inch red or fluorescent orange flags on staffs.
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.
Yes
Escort vehicle orange flags required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must display orange coloured flags on each side.
Yes
Operator qualifications and certification
Escort vehicle operator certificate must be carried (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle operator must have in their possession their certificate of appointment or certification while carrying out escort duties and produce it upon request.
Yes
Minimum age of escort vehicle operator (Measures)
Minimum age, in years, that a person must be to drive an escort vehicle accompanying an oversize or overweight vehicle or combination.
21 years
Pilot car operator certification required (Yes or no)
Whether a person acting as a pilot car (escort vehicle) operator must hold a certification or nomination issued by the road authority, in addition to a driver's licence.
Yes
Escort operating duties and traffic control
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
Escort vehicle hand-held stop sign required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle operator must use a hand-held stop sign meeting specified size, colour and lettering requirements when directing traffic.
Yes
Minimum distance between escort and escorted vehicle (Measures)
Minimum distance, in metres, that must be maintained between an escort vehicle and the escorted vehicle or convoy.
1000′304.8 m
Where these facts come from
- New York State Certified Escort Manual 2025(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, PDF, 73 facts
- Subpart 154-1 — Nondivisible Load Permits; Table of Fees (Perm 43)(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, PDF, 20 facts
- Overweight and Oversized Vehicles — New York DMV(opens in a new tab)
dmv.ny.gov, web page, 5 facts
- Escorts(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, web page, 3 facts
- Information Concerning Special Hauling Permits, PERM 30(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, PDF, 3 facts
- Information Concerning Special Hauling Permits, PERM 30(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, PDF, 3 facts
- General Information and Requirements for Superload Moves (PERM 12S)(opens in a new tab)
www.dot.ny.gov, PDF, 2 facts