Or. Admin. Code § 734-075-0035 - Pilot Vehicles
(1) Pilot
vehicle(s) may be needed to ensure the safety of the traveling public when
vehicle and load movements involve excessive width, height, length, or
projections to the front or rear of vehicles or combinations of vehicles. The
configuration of such pilot vehicles(s) must be a passenger car, pick-up,
truck, or truck-tractor of legal size and weight. A pilot vehicle may not tow
another vehicle.
(2) Pilot vehicles
escorting oversize loads or vehicles are required to have the following:
(a) Warning signs mounted above the roofline
of the vehicle. This sign must bear the legend "OVERSIZE LOAD." The sign must
be at least five feet wide by ten inches high; have black letters eight inches
high with one-inch brush stroke in accordance with Federal Highway
Administration series B, on highway yellow background. The sign must be
displayed only during the course of the oversize movement, and must be removed
or retracted at all other times. The sign must be clean, legible, and mounted
adequately to afford full view at all times, when in use, to the front or rear
depending upon location of pilot vehicle or relative to the oversize
unit;
(b) Warning lights are
required in addition to those lights that may otherwise be required by law. The
warning lights must be displayed only during the course of the oversize
movement, and at all other times the requirements found in ORS
816.350(7) will
apply. Strobe lights are allowed. These lights must be mounted above the roof
of the cab, be clearly visible from 500 feet, have a minimum of 30 flashes per
minute and be either:
(A) Two flashing amber
lights as widely spaced laterally as is practical;
(B) Revolving type amber light(s);
or
(C) Amber type strobe light(s)
with 360 degree visibility.
(c) Two-way radio communications between the
oversize vehicle and the pilot vehicle(s) must be maintained at all
times;
(d) Two 18-inch-square red
or fluorescent orange flags mounted on three-foot length staffs must be carried
by each pilot vehicle. The pilot vehicle operator will use the flags to warn
oncoming or overtaking traffic when the oversize unit is stopped and
obstructing traffic;
(e) Eight
safety flares or reflectors. Safety flares may not be used when the movement
involves hazardous materials; and
(f) For a load exceeding 14 feet 6 inches
high, an over-height pole adequate to determine load clearance is required if
the permittee has not provided the department with a signed official ODOT form
assuming all liability for any damage that may occur during an over-height
movement. Instructions for over-height pole use are found in Attachment 75A,
revised January 2023. Attachment 75A is by reference made part of Division 75
rules, and is available from the CCD Over-Dimension Permit Unit.
(3) The number of pilot vehicles
required for certain movements is shown on Permit Attachment 75A, revised
January 2023, which is issued with permits requiring pilot vehicles. The Chief
Engineer is authorized to alter the number of pilot vehicles from those
specified in Permit Attachment 75A, revised January 2023, depending upon local
conditions, seasonal traffic, construction projects, or other considerations.
The permit will reflect altered requirements. Further, units with an overall
width not exceeding 12 feet that meet the warning lights requirements described
in OAR 734-075-0040(2) and
(3) are exempt from rear pilot car
requirements on Group 1 Highways as shown on Group Map 1, revised April 2021,
unless specifically required by the permit or Chief Engineer. Group Map 1 is by
reference made part of Division 75 rules, and is available from the CCD
Over-Dimension Permit Unit.
(4) The
highway classification groups referred to in Attachment 75A are established by
and maintained by the Chief Engineer.
(5) Positioning of pilot vehicles - Unless
specified otherwise, the pilot vehicle(s) must be positioned ahead of (when one
is required) or to the front and rear of (when two or more are required) the
oversize unit at a distance of 300 feet to 500 feet from the unit. In areas
where increased traffic congestion is encountered, where traffic is controlled
by signals, or where other conditions may so require, the spacing will be
reduced as may be required to properly safeguard the traveling
public.
(6) When for any cause the
oversize unit is stopped and occupies or encroaches onto the highway's travel
lane, the pilot vehicle(s) must be positioned to warn and safeguard other
traffic approaching from any direction from which visibility or sight distance
may be limited.
(7) Duties of pilot
vehicle operations:
(a) Warn approaching or
overtaking traffic of the unit's presence on the highway to provide a maximum
of protection and safety for the traveling public; and
(b) When encountering bridges, structures,
tunnels, or other locations where clearances may be limited to the extent that
normal two-way traffic cannot be maintained, the pilot vehicle operator must
signal by hand or radio to the towing vehicle driver when the oversize unit can
proceed without conflict to approaching traffic. As the oversize unit then
proceeds through such areas of impaired clearance, the pilot vehicle operator
must warn approaching traffic.
(8) Pilot vehicle(s) are considered to be
under the direct control and supervision of the oversize vehicle
operator.
(9) Specific identified
locations may require additional precautions. Permits will specify locations
that require certified flagging to be conducted. The flagging must be conducted
in accordance with the standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices as adopted in OAR
734-020-0005.
Notes
Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 810.060, 184.619 & 823.011
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 818.200 & 818.220
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(1) Pilot vehicle(s) may be needed to insure the safety of the traveling public when vehicle and load movements involve excessive width, height, length, or projections to the front or rear of vehicles or combinations of vehicles. The configuration of such pilot vehicles(s) must be a passenger car, pick-up, truck, or truck-tractor of legal size and weight. A pilot vehicle may not tow another vehicle.
(2) Pilot vehicles escorting oversize loads or vehicles are required to have the following:
(a) Warning signs mounted above the roofline of the vehicle. This sign must bear the legend "OVERSIZE LOAD." The sign must be at least five feet wide by ten inches high; have black letters eight inches high with one-inch brush stroke in accordance with Federal Highway Administration series B, on highway yellow background. The sign must be displayed only during the course of the oversize movement, and must be removed or retracted at all other times. The sign must be clean, legible, and mounted adequately to afford full view at all times, when in use, to the front or rear depending upon location of pilot vehicle or relative to the oversize unit ;
(b) Warning lights are required in addition to those lights that may otherwise be required by law. The warning lights must be displayed only during the course of the oversize movement, and at all other times the requirements found in ORS 816.350(7) will apply. Strobe lights are allowed. These lights must be mounted above the roof of the cab, be clearly visible from 500 feet, have a minimum of 30 flashes per minute and be either:
(A) Two flashing amber lights as widely spaced laterally as is practical;
(B) Revolving type amber light(s); or
(C) Amber type strobe light(s) with 360 degree visibility.
(c) Two-way radio communications between the oversize vehicle and the pilot vehicle(s) must be maintained at all times;
(d) Two 18-inch-square red or fluorescent orange flags mounted on three-foot length staffs must be carried by each pilot vehicle. The pilot vehicle operator will use the flags to warn oncoming or overtaking traffic when the oversize unit is stopped and obstructing traffic;
(e) Eight safety flares or reflectors. Safety flares may not be used when the movement involves hazardous materials; and
(f) For a load exceeding 14 feet 6 inches high, an over-height pole adequate to determine load clearance is required if the permittee has not provided the department with a signed official ODOT form assuming all liability for any damage that may occur during an over-height movement. Instructions for over-height pole use are found on Permit Attachment 75-A.
(3) The number of pilot vehicles required for certain movements is shown on Permit Attachment 75-A, which is issued with permits requiring pilot vehicles. The Chief Engineer is authorized to alter the number of pilot vehicles from those specified in Permit Attachment 75-A depending upon local conditions, seasonal traffic, construction projects, or other considerations. The permit will reflect altered requirements. Further, units with an overall width not exceeding 12 feet that meet the warning lights requirements described in 734-075-0040(2) and (3) are exempt from rear pilot car requirements on Group 1 Highways unless specifically required by the permit or Chief Engineer .
(4) Permit Attachment 75-A is available from the Commerce and Compliance Division, Over-Dimension Permit Unit .
(5) The highway classification groups referred to in Permit Attachment 75-A are established by and maintained by the Chief Engineer .
(6) Positioning of pilot vehicles - Unless specified otherwise, the pilot vehicle(s) must be positioned ahead of (when one is required) or to the front and rear of (when two or more are required) the oversize unit at a distance of 300 feet to 500 feet from the unit . In areas where increased traffic congestion is encountered, where traffic is controlled by signals, or where other conditions may so require, the spacing will be reduced as may be required to properly safeguard the traveling public.
(7) When for any cause the oversize unit is stopped and occupies or encroaches onto the highway's travel lane, the pilot vehicle(s) must be positioned to warn and safeguard other traffic approaching from any direction from which visibility or sight distance may be limited.
(8) Duties of pilot vehicle operations:
(a) Warn approaching or overtaking traffic of the unit 's presence on the highway to provide a maximum of protection and safety for the traveling public; and
(b) When encountering bridges, structures, tunnels, or other locations where clearances may be limited to the extent that normal two-way traffic cannot be maintained, the pilot vehicle operator must signal by hand or radio to the towing vehicle driver when the oversize unit can proceed without conflict to approaching traffic. As the oversize unit then proceeds through such areas of impaired clearance, the pilot vehicle operator must warn approaching traffic.
(9) Pilot vehicle(s) are considered to be under the direct control and supervision of the oversize vehicle operator.
(10) Specific identified locations may require additional precautions. Permits will specify locations that require certified flagging to be conducted. The flagging must be conducted in accordance with the standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as adopted in OAR 734-020-0005.
Notes
Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 184.619, 810.060 & 823.011
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 818.200 & 818.220