Arkansas Pilot Car Services
Nationwide Transport Services is your go-to pilot car services partner when moving oversized loads across Arkansas. Our team has extensive experience successfully guiding oversized loads across the valleys and mountains of Arkansas. Experienced pilot car drivers are essential to smooth operation when navigating oversized loads across such rugged terrain.
Pilot cars, also known as guide or escort vehicles, are required in oversized load transports for many reasons. Their most important and widely known role is ensuring the safety of all elements involved in the process. Pilot car operators do more than escort the customer's load; they conduct route surveys, help acquire all necessary permits, and coordinate with transport agencies.
A route survey is a legal requirement as it validates that the proposed route is safe for an oversized load. Specialists do it using a pilot car marked for the process. It involves collecting data on the heights of bridges and underpasses, railway crossings on the route, low-hanging power lines, and traffic signals. Additionally, we always consider the traffic patterns and potential challenges to ensure smooth flow on transit day.
Pilot Car Regulations in Arkansas
Pilot cars in Arkansas must be licensed locally in the state. They should either be a truck of at least ¼ tons capacity or a vehicle whose gross weight exceeds 2,000 pounds. The details of the vehicle operator, as well as their name and address, must be displayed on each door. An "Oversized Load" sign should be displayed visibly to oncoming traffic during transit. The required safety equipment for pilot cars in Arkansas includes:
- A 10-pound chemical-type fire extinguisher.
- Four 15-minute burning flares.
- Any other device indicated on the permit.
For communication, each vehicle must have a 2-way radio with a radius of at least 1 ½ miles and be compatible with every vehicle in the convoy, including law enforcement.
For visibility, a pilot car must operate a regulation-standard rotating amber light or a strobe-type amber light. During transportation, it is kept at least 200 feet between the escort and towing vehicle.
Why Choose Our Arkansas Oversize Load Escort Services?
Nationwide Transport Services has over a decade of experience. We have helped many customers transport their oversized loads safely. We offer more services associated with pilot cars, including.
- Lead Escort Services in Arkansas
- Rear Escort Services in Arkansas
- Arkansas Flagging Services
- Chase Car Services in Arkansas
- High Pole / Height Pole Services
- Route Survey Services
- Port Escort (TWIC CARD) Services
- Bucket Truck Services in Arkansas
- Super Load Escorting Services in Arkansas
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Length requirements
- On controlled access and divided highways with four or more lanes or interstates, one rear escort car should follow loads over 100'. On all other highways, one lead escort car is necessary.
- Two escorts are mandatory for loads longer than 115' on highways with less than four lanes.
Width requirements
- Loads wider than 14' require one rear escort car on controlled access divided four-lane highways following at 200 feet.
- Two escort cars (one front, one rear) are needed on noncontrolled access highways or divided highways with four or more lanes for loads over 14', while one rear escort is needed for loads between 12' and 14'.
Height requirements
- Load height exceeding 15' requires one escort vehicle with a clearance bar extending 6" above the load height.
- A special permit is necessary for anything above 17.'
Overhang requirements
- For front overhangs over 10" on two or four-lane roads, one front escort car is required, while one rear escort is required if the rear overhang exceeds 10'
Special Stipulations
- The permit may call for extra escorts for the safety of all involved parties.
- Permits may also require certain law enforcement agencies to accompany the load.
Travel restrictions
- Permits only allow for travel during daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.
- Travel is not allowed on certain national holidays or the weekends before or after a holiday that falls on a Monday or Friday
- During poor weather conditions or low visibility, travel is also not allowed.
