Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 734 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAY DIVISION › Division 82 - VARIANCE PERMITS ISSUED FOR NON-DIVISIBLE LOADS AND ROAD USE ASSESSMENT FEES › Section 734-082-0035 - Pilot Vehicle(s)

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1)
			 Pilot vehicles 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 vehicle(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 sign(s) mounted above the
			 roofline of the vehicle. One required sign must bear the legend "OVERSIZE
			 LOAD." When three front pilot vehicles are required by a permit, and the load
			 will cross the centerline of the highway, additional signs that bear the legend
			 "REDUCE SPEED" and "MOVE RIGHT" may be required. Signs 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. Signs must be displayed only during the course
			 of the oversize movement, and must be removed or retracted at all other times.
			 Signs 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)
			 must apply. Strobe lights are allowed. These lights must be mounted above the
			 roof of the cab, be clearly visible from a distance of 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;
			 or
(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
			 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/or 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 82-A.