RouteAllHeight Pole Requirements By State
Official Sources Reviewed: November 12, 2026
Forty-three states set a height at which a load needs an escort, and 36 of them name a height pole or measuring device on the front escort. The most common trigger is 14 feet 6 inches, in 11 states; the range runs from 13 feet 6 inches (Rhode Island) to 18 feet (North Dakota).
On This Page
Which States Require A Height Pole?
Each row quotes the state’s own rule, retrieved for the RouteAll 50-state tables and re-read November 12, 2026. Where our table has no rule for a state yet, the cell says so; the permit can still require one.
| State | Height: escort or pole | The rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Full state guide | Over 15 ft 6 in: front with height indicator | “(1) Over height vehicles/loads: Front escort with height indicator is required for heights in excess of (15) feet, six (6) inches (15’6”).” | Ala. Admin. Code r. 450-3-1-.05(1) |
| Alaska Full state guide | Over 17 ft: front pilot car with height pole | “9.3.4 Must be preceded by a front pilot/escort vehicle carrying an over-height pole mounted such that it is at least six inches higher than the highest point of the permitted vehicle or load.” | Alaska DOT&PF Administrative Permit Manual (Apr 2023) 9.3.4 |
| Arizona Full state guide | Over 15 ft, 3 a.m. to dawn moves: front with height pole | “3. Over 15 feet in height requires a front escort with a height pole.” | Ariz. Admin. Code R17-6-402(D)(3) |
| Arkansas Full state guide | Over 15 ft: lead with clearance bar | “Any vehicle or load that exceeds fifteen feet (15’) in height is required to have one escort vehicle equipped with a clearance bar that extends six inches (6”) above the permitted height preceding the load, unless otherwise specified on the permit.” | ARDOT 2023 Permit Rules, Rule 3.F.2 |
| California Full state guide | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Colorado | Over 16 ft: front with height pole | “An Extra-legal Vehicle or Load more than sixteen feet in Height is prohibited from travel unless a Pilot Escort Vehicle is positioned in front with a height pole.” | 2 CCR 601-4, 409.2 |
| Connecticut | 14 ft 6 in or more: front pole car | “A Front Pole Car is required for all loads 14’-6” high or greater. The front pole car can be used as a civilian escort when it meets all escort vehicle requirements below:” | CTDOT OS/OW FAQ, When is a Front Pole Car required? |
| Delaware | 15 ft or more: front and rear | “Two (2) escort vehicles are required for vehicles and loads fifteen feet (15’) or more in height. One (1) escort vehicle shall be in front of the over height vehicle or load and one (1) behind.” | DelDOT OS/OW Policy and Procedures Manual 4.6.1.6 |
| Florida Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: front with height pole (blanket) | “One (1) qualified escort vehicle with a vertical height indicator is required” | FDOT Blanket Permit Movement Conditions (July 27, 2026) |
| Georgia Full state guide | 15 ft 6 in or more: front with height sensor | “For any permitted load whose height is 15' 6" or greater a vehicle front escort with a height sensor is required.” | GDOT Oversize Permits page, Georgia Escort Requirements |
| Hawaii | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Idaho | Over 16 ft: lead with non-metal pole | “Loads Over Sixteen Feet High. Height poles are necessary in the front of the pilot/escort vehicles leading all loads over sixteen (16’) feet high with a non-metallic height pole deployed.” | IDAPA 39.03.01.306.02 |
| Illinois Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: 1 | “2) For all moves that exceed 110 feet in length; 3) For all moves that exceed 14 feet 6 inches in height;” | 92 Ill. Adm. Code 554.407(a)(3) |
| Indiana Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: front with height stick | “If over 14’6” high, must have an escort with a height stick traveling in front of load” | Indiana DOR M-204 General Provisions (4-22) |
| Iowa Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: front with height pole | “j. A pole used for measuring vertical clearances is mounted on the front escorting vehicle. The escort is required to measure all vertical clearances whenever the height of the permitted vehicle exceeds 14 feet 6 inches up to and including 20 feet.” | Iowa Admin. Code 761—511.20(1)(j) |
| Kansas | Over 16 ft: lead with height pole | “At least one EV preceding a load that exceeds a height of 16 feet when measured from the surface of the roadway shall have a height pole.” | K.A.R. 36-45-8(b), K-TRIPS Escort Vehicle Regulations PDF |
| Kentucky | Over 14 ft 11 in: front with height pole | “1 – Front escort with a Height Pole attachment is required when the height exceeds 14 feet and 11 in.” | KYTC DRIVE Escort Requirements (two-lane) |
| Louisiana Full state guide | Over 15 ft 10 in: front pole truck | “Pole trucks, when defined as vehicles equipped with height indicators: • Are required for loads over 15’ 10” high and must travel in front of loads” | LA DOTD OS/OW Permit Rules and Regulations (2026), Pole Trucks |
| Maine | Over 15 ft: pole car | “A pole car is required when overall height exceeds 15 feet.” | 29-250 CMR Ch. 157 §5 (Over Height Permits) |
| Maryland Full state guide | 14 ft 6 in or more: pole vehicle | “(2) More than 85 feet long; (3) 14 feet 6 inches high or more (pole vehicle required);” | COMAR 11.04.04.03A(3) |
| Massachusetts Full state guide | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Michigan | Over 14 ft 6 in: escort with measuring device | “If height of the vehicle or load exceeds 14’6”, the escort vehicle will be required to have a fixed measuring device set at a height to assure clearance of the load.” | MDOT Special Provisions, provision 12 |
| Minnesota Full state guide | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Mississippi | 15 ft 7 in or more: height pole (superload) | “A height pole will be required if the load is fifteen (15) feet seven (7) inches tall or more.” | MDOT Permit Manual, Super Load conditions |
| Missouri Full state guide | Over 15 ft 6 in: front height-detection escort | “Loads exceeding 15'6" require a front height detection escort vehicle on all highways.” | MoDOT OSOW Regulation 2025, Escort Requirements table |
| Montana | Over 17 ft: front with height pole | “Pilot vehicle requirements: loads exceeding 17 feet high to 24 feet high must have one front pilot vehicle equipped with a height pole” | MDT Permit Restriction 36c / ARM 18.8.511A |
| Nebraska Full state guide | 16 ft or more: front pole car | “003.21B On loads 16 feet in height or higher, a pre-run route survey shall be required and provided to the Department in writing prior to issuance of a permit and a pole car shall be required to the front of the overdimensional vehicle or load.” | 408 NAC 3-003.21B |
| Nevada | Over 15 ft 6 in: lead with clearance pole | “If the height of the load exceeds 15 feet 6 inches, the pilot car must also be equipped with a clearance pole.” | NAC 484D.670(3)(a) |
| New Hampshire Full state guide | Over 14 ft: 1 (no pole named) | “(2) The overall length is equal to or greater than 90 feet 0 inches; (3) The overall height is greater than 14 feet 0 inches; or” | Tra 304.17(c)(2)-(3) |
| New Jersey | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| New Mexico Full state guide | Over 16 ft: escort or spotter may be required | “An escort vehicle or a person other than the driver of the permitted vehicle may be required to accompany the movement of a vehicle, combination or load that exceeds a height of 16 feet.” | NMAC 18.19.8.83 |
| New York | 14 ft or more: front with height pole | “and/or height of 14 feet or greater, or where the overhang is greater than 10 feet. For overheight vehicles with a width of 12 feet wide or less the front escort must be equipped with a height pole” | NYSDOT Vehicle Escort Manual (2025), Sec. 15(b) |
| North Carolina Full state guide | Over 14 ft 5 in: front with height pole | “Front pole car escort equipped with height pole indicator for permitted loads exceeding 14 feet 5 inches in height.” | NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Handbook, Escorts |
| North Dakota | Over 18 ft: escort required | “All movements exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width, 18 feet in height, and 120 feet in overall length are required to have official escort or approved pilot cars” | NDHP Policy 9-6 (11/21/2025), 4. Escort requirements (a) |
| Ohio Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: lead with height sensor | “One lead escort vehicle equipped with a height sensing device shall be required for the transportation of any vehicle/load with a permitted height in excess of 14 feet 6 inches.” | ODOT Form OS-1A (Rev. 01/18), Private Escort Vehicles 4 |
| Oklahoma Full state guide | 15 ft 9 in or more: front and rear | “Loads with an overall height of fifteen (15) feet and nine (9) inches or more are required to be accompanied by two escort vehicles, one in the front and one in the rear.” | Okla. Admin. Code 730:50-5-18(b)(3) |
| Oregon Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: front with height pole | “When height exceeds 14 feet 06 inches a front pilot vehicle with height pole is required, unless the permittee has filed a declaration with CCD assuming complete and total liability” | ODOT Route Map 2 Legend (Jan 7, 2026), Notes on Pilot Vehicle Charts |
| Pennsylvania Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: lead with height pole | “If the total height of the vehicle or combination, including a load, exceeds 14 feet, 6 inches, a pilot car shall precede the permitted vehicle by 1,000 feet to 3,000 feet on all highways, to detect critical overhead obstructions by means of a height pole” | 67 Pa. Code 179.10(13)(i)(C) |
| Rhode Island | Over 13 ft 6 in: escort required | “Q: When are escorts required? A: Escort(s) are required when a load is: • 12 ft wide or more • 85 ft long or more • over 13 ft 6 in high” | RIDOT OSOW FAQs |
| South Carolina | 16 ft or more: front with height device | “Height 16 feet and greater: One front escort with a height measuring device is required during entire movement on all roadways.” | SCDOT Guidelines for Movement (Rev. 3/2026), Q. Escort Requirements |
| South Dakota | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Tennessee Full state guide | Over 15 ft: front with height pole | “Height 15’1” and greater Front escort with height pole required” | TDOT OS/OW Permit FAQs |
| Texas Full state guide | Over 17 ft: front with height pole | “Any permitted vehicle that exceeds 17-feet in height must have a front escort flag vehicle equipped with a height pole made of nonconductive metal to accurately measure overhead obstructions.” | TxDMV Escort and Equipment Requirements page |
| Utah Full state guide | Over 16 ft: escort carries height pole | “(ix) a height-measuring pole made of a non-conductive, non-destructive, flexible, or frangible material, only required if escorting a vehicle or load exceeding 16 feet in height;” | Utah Admin. Code R909-2-24(7)(a)(ix) |
| Vermont | Not in our table yet; see permit | ||
| Virginia Full state guide | Over 14 ft 5 in: front with height pole | “9. One front escort equipped with a height pole, adjusted three inches above the load height, is required on all routes when the permitted load exceeds 14 feet five inches in height.” | 24VAC20-82-130(A)(9) |
| Washington Full state guide | Over 14 ft 6 in: front with height pole | “(h) The height of the vehicle(s) or load exceeds 14 feet six inches: One pilot/escort vehicle with height measuring device (pole) is required at the front of the movement on all highways.” | WAC 468-38-100(1)(h) |
| West Virginia | Over 15 ft: front pole car | “Height Exceeds 15' Escort vehicle required with Oversize Load sign: 2 lane Front pole car required” | WVDOH Permit Information PDF (rev. 3-17-2023) |
| Wisconsin | Over 16 ft: pole vehicle | “Note on height: Loads greater than 16-0" shall have a pole vehicle. Pole vehicle shall be in addition to escort requirements above;” | WisDOT Minimum Standards for Escort Vehicles (escort grid PDF) |
| Wyoming | Over 17 ft: front with height device | “(j) Escorts for Height. On all highways, any move exceeding 17 feet shall require an escort to the front with a height-measuring device.” | WYDOT Motor Carrier Rules Ch. 5, Sec. 8(j) |
How Is The Pole Set And Used?
The states that describe the pole agree on the job: it rides on the front escort, is set a little above the load’s height, and touches anything the load would hit before the load gets there.
- Virginia requires one front escort with a height pole “adjusted three inches above the load height”.
- Utah requires a pole “made of a non-conductive, non-destructive, flexible, or frangible material”, and Idaho a non-metallic pole on loads over 16 feet.
- Iowa makes the escort measure every vertical clearance when the load is over 14 feet 6 inches and up to 20 feet.
- Nebraska and Indiana add route surveys at 16 and 17 feet.
For the training side, from mounting the pole to calling a strike, see height pole pilot car work.
Which States Want An Escort For Height But No Pole?
Six states’ rules bring an escort for height without naming a pole: Delaware (front and rear at 15 feet), Illinois (one escort over 14 feet 6 inches), New Hampshire (one over 14 feet), North Dakota (over 18 feet), Oklahoma (front and rear at 15 feet 9 inches) and Rhode Island (over 13 feet 6 inches). New Mexico says an escort or spotter may be required over 16 feet. Many permits in those states still name a pole car; read the permit’s escort lines.
Where Does RouteAll Fit?
RouteAll does not issue permits or measure clearances. Upload the permit and it lists every road the permit names, so the driver and the pole car work from the same route, and it warns you if you leave it.
Before You Roll
- Measure the loaded height yourself; do not trust the paperwork.
- Read the permit’s escort lines: they can require a pole below the rule’s trigger.
- Set the pole above the load height and check it at every stop.
- Over 16 feet, ask whether the state wants a route survey before the permit.
Common Questions
What states require a height pole?
Thirty-six states name a height pole or measuring device on the front escort in their rules, most often from 14 feet 6 inches. The table above lists each state with the rule’s own words.
At what height do you need a pole car?
It depends on the state: 14 feet 6 inches in 11 states, and anywhere from 13 feet 6 inches (Rhode Island) to 18 feet (North Dakota) elsewhere. Your permit can set a lower trigger.
How high should a height pole be set?
Above the load. Virginia’s rule says three inches above the load height; most states leave the margin to the escort and the permit.
Do all states require a height pole?
No. Six states’ rules require an escort for height without naming a pole, and Arizona’s pole rule covers early-morning moves. Our table has no height rule yet for seven states, including California and Minnesota, so check the permit there.
Further Reading
- Pilot Car Requirements By State
- Height Pole Pilot Car Work: Training And Preparation
- Police Escort Requirements By State
Sources And Scope
State rules and permit manuals linked in each row are the authority, and the issued permit governs. Rows change when a state amends its rule; check the source before a move near a trigger.
- 24VAC20-82-130(A)(9) — Front escort with a height pole adjusted three inches above the load height, over 14 ft 5 in. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
- IDAPA 39.03.01.306.02 — Non-metallic height pole on the lead escort over 16 feet. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Utah Admin. Code R909-2-24(7)(a)(ix) — Non-conductive, non-destructive, flexible or frangible height pole over 16 feet. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
- Iowa Admin. Code 761—511.20 — Front pole; escort measures clearances over 14 ft 6 in up to 20 ft. Retrieved November 12, 2026.