An escort vehicle is a vehicle used as a forward or rear warning device to the general public, required for certain over-dimensional or over weight loads, also referred to as flag or pilot cars.
The purpose of the escort vehicle and driver is to enhance the safety of moving over-dimensional loads by highway and to reduce delays and inconveniences to the normal flow of traffic. Escort drivers have specific tasks to perform during each phase of the over-dimensional load movement.
The escort vehicle and driver are responsible for the overall movement of the load. It is important to remember that the over-dimensional load driver and the escort(s) function as a team. Each person must contribute his skills and complete attention to accomplishing the safe movement of the load. Constant alertness is necessary to anticipate and avoid problems.
The training program provides a solid foundation for conducting escort vehicle operations in a safe and professional manner. Specific objectives of the program include:
- Enhance the safety of the traveling public
- Enhance the safety of the people involved in the movement of the over-dimensional load
- Prevent damage to the highways and road system - overhead obstacles and road shoulders
- Prevent damage to the load being transported
- Reduce undue delay to the normal flow of traffic
- Assure continuation of the industry’s safe transportation record
- Prevent increases in insurance cost for the trucking companies due to loss claims
- Avoid costly damage suits
- Encourage uniform escort operations
When properly trained, escort vehicle drivers provide benefits to all parties involved in the transportation of over-dimensional or oversized loads: the manufacturers themselves, the trucking companies transporting the load, the general motoring public, and all other drivers and pedestrians on our highways and roads.
Virginia Code §46.2-2906 states that every person who applies for escort vehicle driver certification must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 21 years of age;
- Hold a valid driver's license;
- Authorize DMV to review his driving record;
- Complete an Escort Certification Application (HP-404)
- Present proof of completion of an eight-hour classroom training course
- Pass the knowledge test at DMV with at least 80%, and
- Pay the appropriate fees.
Once you have completed the course and received your completion certificate, you can go to any Virginia DMV Customer Service Center (CSC) with your certificate and take the 50-question Escort Vehicle Driver Certification Test. You must get a score of 80% or better in order to pass the test. There is a $25.00 certificate fee that must be paid at the time the test is passed.
After passing the escort vehicle driver certification test and meeting all of the requirements for escort driver certification, you will receive a Temporary Certificate that is valid for 30 days. The official certification card will be sent to the address indicated and should arrive within 30 days of passing the test.
After you have completed the test, a DMV customer service representative will let you know whether or not you passed. If you fail the test, you may retake it on the next business day. However, if you fail the test three times, you must wait 30 calendar days before retaking the test. We suggest you review the material presented at the training course prior to retaking the test.
The certificate is valid for five years and will expire on the last day of the month in which it was issued. For example, if your certification was issued March 1, your certification will expire in five years on March 31st.
- The cost for the training course will vary based upon the site offering the course. DMV has no control over this fee.
- To obtain a certification from DMV, the cost is $25.
- The cost of each additional test (re-examination fee) is $2 and charged when a customer retakes the test after a failed test.
Yes, customers with valid out-of-state driver's licenses are able to get a Virginia escort vehicle driver certification. If validity of an out state-state driver's license can be verified in our DMV offices on the National Driver Registry (NDR), a transcript from your state is not needed. However, proof of completion of an 8-hour training course is required. This training can be from Virginia or another state that has a reciprocal agreement with Virginia.
To renew your certification, you will have to take the escort vehicle driver certification test at a customer service center (CSC) and pay a $25 renewal fee. If the certification is expired, but expired less than one year, will have to take the escort vehicle driver certification test and pay a $25 renewal fee. If your certification has been expired for more than a year, you will have to take an 8-hour training course, pass the test and pay a $25 renewal fee.
To receive a duplicate certificate if it has been lost, stolen, destroyed, go to any Virginia DMV CSC and complete the "Escort Vehicle Driver Certification Application" (HP-404). Pay the $15 duplication fee and you will receive the duplicate in about two weeks. You may also contact the Hauling Permit Office at (804) 497-7135 to obtain a duplicate. Performing escort duties without a certificate is done at your own risk.
Neither the escort driver certification test nor the 8-hour training course is required for a duplicate or reissue certification card or to change information on an existing certification card.
You must notify the DMV within 30 days of your change of address. There is no charge to change your address unless you purchase a new driver's license with your new address on it.
- The certification is not valid if the driver's license is revoked or suspended.
- The certification may be revoked if the driver is convicted repeatedly of violating the laws and safe escort procedures.
- The certification will be suspended if the driver is repeatedly caught speeding, making illegal turns, blocking traffic outside of what is required in the permit, the drivers permit can be revoked.
- The certification will be revoked if a driver becomes physically or mentally unable to drive.
- The certification will be revoked if a driver is found to have given false or fraudulent information on the application for certification as an escort driver.
If the escort vehicle driver's license is in good standing with the state, then the certification is valid. If the driver's license is suspended or revoked, then the certification is not valid.
- The vehicle used for escort duty should be a truck or SUV of not less than one-quarter ton-rated load capacity but not more than 17,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or a passenger vehicle of not less than 2,000 pounds gross weight.
- An escort vehicle shall not resemble nor be confused with law-enforcement or safety-assistance vehicles.
- The escort vehicle should be clearly marked with the appropriate signage and should have the escort vehicle company sign on both sides of the escort vehicle.
- The escort vehicle must be in compliance with all state and local registration requirements.
- The escort vehicle must be in compliance with all state and local registration requirements.
- The escort vehicle are not to be over-dimensional or overweight while being used in escort functions.
- An escort vehicle is not permitted to pull a trailer of any kind while performing escort functions.
- An escort vehicle must have an unobstructed view through the rear window.
- The escort vehicle must be equipped with a two-way radio communications system to maintain communications with the load, other escort vehicles and utility vehicles.
(For the complete list and more detail, refer to the Virginia Escort Driver’s Manual)
- Signage: All escort vehicles shall have signs that are descriptive of the load being escorted, such as "oversize load". At a minimum, the signs shall be displayed in black eight-inch high letters with a minimum of 1-1/4 inch brush strokes on a yellow banner. The banner shall be mounted on the front and/or rear bumper of the escort vehicle. If displaying the "oversize load" sign on the roof of the escort vehicle, other drivers must be able to read the signs when approaching or following the escort vehicle.
- Lights: All escort vehicles shall have at least one rotating light or strobe, positioned on top of the escort vehicle. The light must be visible for a distance of at least 500 feet in all directions by approaching vehicles. When mounting lights on top of the vehicle if the "oversize load" sign is on top of the vehicle, the lights must be mounted in one of three places. When escorting an oversize load the headlamps of the escort vehicle must be on at all times.
- Vehicle Flags: Vehicle mounted flags must be red/orange in color, 18 by 18 inches in size, and mounted In line with the top mounted oversize load sign at approximately a 45 degree angle towards the sides of the pilot/escort vehicle. The top mounted flags should extend no more than 6 inches beyond the widest part of the vehicle (rear view mirrors).
- Height Pole: Front or lead escort vehicle drivers must have a height pole mounted when required by the permit, to make sure that the load is able to clear all overpasses, tunnels, low hanging street lights and signals and road signs. Make sure to extend the height pole at least 3 inches above the maximum height of the load. A height pole is generally required for loads with a maximum height over 14 feet 6 inches. The height pole is to be mounted on the front of the lead escort vehicle. Make sure that it is mounted in such a way that the drivers view is not obstructed and that it does not create a hazard for oncoming traffic.
- Other Equipment (Best Practices): The escort vehicle driver is to insure that the vehicle is equipped with the following items to handle any unforeseen situation.
- A fire extinguisher
- A first aid kit
- At least 9 Bi-directional reflective triangles
- Eight red burning flares, glow sticks or equivalent illumination device
- One stop/slow reflective paddle 18 inches by 18 inches with six inch lettering
- A hard hat and highly visible fluorescent traffic vest or jacket approved by ANSI II or III.
- Flashlight and traffic wand flashlight with a safety nose cone
- Serviceable spare tire, i.e., one that is inflated and has good tread.
DMV manages the weigh stations and our employees are trained to ensure that the truck has the proper number of escorts and that the escorts are certified with the proper equipment. The inspection stations for tunnels could do the same thing. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) runs the inspection stations prior to the tunnels and we plan an educational outreach for them as well.
The Virginia Code does not have a section that specifically imposes fines for not having the proper equipment; however, the load can be delayed until the proper equipment is obtained.
The Virginia driver's license is proof that a driver is able to operate a vehicle in the Commonwealth. It was decided that a separate certification card would be used to show that additional requirements for becoming an escort vehicle driver have been met.
The state of Virginia has agreements with other states with similar training programs to allow escort vehicle drivers certified in Virginia to be considered certified in those states and vice versa. This is called reciprocity and is defined in Virginia Code §46.2-2907. Currently, we have an agreement with North Carolina. This allows anyone who has a valid Virginia escort vehicle driver certification to escort loads in that state.
The Code of Virginia focuses on Virginia residents and non-Virginia residents. Virginia Code § 46.2-2901 states in part that anytime a load is being escorted the escort driver must have: a valid escort vehicle driver certificate issued by the Commonwealth or another state that has a reciprocal agreement with the Commonwealth recognizing escort vehicle driver certificates issued by that state. Additionally, Virginia Code §46.2-2907 and §46.2-2908 stipulate that non-Virginia residents can legally escort loads in Virginia. None of the approved language mandates a Virginia resident to obtain a Virginia escort certification. A Virginia resident could have a North Carolina certification and be legal, since North Carolina is a reciprocal state.
Virginia Code §46.2-2902 (effective January 1, 2014) states that insurance to be kept in force. Each person or company providing certified escort vehicle services shall keep in force at all times valid liability insurance coverage for those classes of insurance defined in Virginia Code §38.2-117 and §38.2-118 in the amount of at least $750,000 that has been issued by an insurance carrier authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.
Please contact DMV's Hauling Permits office at (804) 497-7135.