Virginia Administrative Code › Title 24 - TRANSPORTATION AND MOTOR VEHICLES › Agency 20 - DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES › Chapter 82 - OVERLOAD AND HAULING PERMITS REGULATION › Part V - Escort Vehicles and Equipment Requirements; Escort Vehicle Driver Certification; and General Escorting Guidelines › Section 24VAC20-82-120 - Escort vehicles and equipment requirements

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A.
				  The escort vehicle shall be a truck 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. Escort vehicles
				  shall not resemble nor be confused with law-enforcement or safety-assistance
				  vehicles. Escort vehicles shall be in compliance with all state and local
				  registration processes required by the state in which the vehicle is
				  registered. Except when in compliance with subsection C of this section, escort
				  vehicles shall not be overdimensional or overweight while in use performing
				  escorting duties. They are not permitted to pull a trailer of any kind while
				  performing escorting duties and shall have an unobstructed view through the
				  rear window.
B. All escort vehicles
				  shall be equipped with a two-way communication system to maintain
				  communications between the permitted vehicle driver and all escort vehicles in
				  the group.
C. Front or lead escort
				  vehicles are required to have a height pole when required by permit. While
				  performing escorting duties the pole shall be extended at least three inches
				  above the specified height of the vehicle configuration being
				  escorted.
D. Escort vehicle
				  headlights shall be on at all times while escorting overdimensional or
				  overweight vehicles.
E. All escort
				  vehicles shall have at least one light, rotating or flashing, 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.
F. Paddles shall be at least 18 inches by 18
				  inches with six-inch high lettering. For greater visibility, a high-intensity
				  flashing stop/slow paddle may be used.
G. All flags used for traffic control
				  purposes shall be red or any fluorescent color, not less than 18 inches square,
				  and in good condition. Individuals performing flagging activities shall wear a
				  hard hat and approved ANSI Class II or Class III safety vest.
H. Escort vehicles shall have signs,
				  descriptive of the load being escorted (i.e., "Wide Load" or "Oversize Load" or
				  "Overweight 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 rear bumper of the escort
				  vehicle. If displayed on the roof of the escort vehicle, other drivers must be
				  able to read the signs when approaching or following the escort
				  vehicle.
I. A minimum of one
				  Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual Laboratories (FM) approved,
				  five pounds or greater, Type "BC" or "ABC" fire extinguisher shall be carried
				  in the escort vehicle or escort vehicles.
J. Reflective triangles or road flares shall
				  be used to warn oncoming or approaching vehicles of a breakdown.
Statutory Authority: § 46.2-203 of the Code of
						Virginia.