Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
Person's or Companies being used as certified pilot/vehicle
escorts shall meet the minimum requirements in O.C.G.A.
32-6-28(a)(8).
Any driver operating a vehicle escorting an oversize/overweight
load shall meet the training requirements and the certification program by the
Department. This certification may provide for reciprocity with other states
having a similar pre-approved vehicle escort certification program.
Certification credentials for the driver of an escort vehicle shall be carried
in the vehicle and be readily available for inspection by law enforcement
personnel or an authorized employee of the Department.
(1) Equipment: An escort vehicle shall be an
automobile or pickup truck and shall be equipped with a revolving or flashing
amber warning light located on top of the vehicle. The operator shall have
obtained a permit from the appropriate state agency for the use of the light as
required by the provisions of Code Sections
40-8-92, 40-8-93 and
40-8-95, O.C.G.A. Escort vehicles and the vehicle transporting the permitted load will
also be equipped with two-way communication, in good working order, so that the
drivers will have constant communication with each
other as well as communication with GDOT TMC Operators and enforcement
personnel, if required, and any other escorts of the same load. The rear escort
vehicle driver will advise the driver of the load and the front escort, when
applicable, as to the traffic conditions behind the movement. When there are
four or more vehicles behind the permitted load, the escort vehicles and the
permitted load shall pull over and allow the traffic to pass.
(2) Signs:
(a) On all loads over legal width, or height,
or length, a sign containing the wording "OVERSIZED LOAD" shall be mounted on
the front of the escort vehicle (for a front escort) and to the rear of the
escort vehicle (for a rear escort). The letters shall be black on an orange or
yellow backboard and shall be at least eight (8) inches high and four (4)
inches wide. The backboard shall be at least one (1) foot high and six (6) feet
wide.
(3) When Required:
(a) As a condition of the issuance of a
permit, the Department when it deems necessary in the interest of public safety
in any case, may require the use of a front or rear escort, or both.
(b) It shall be an unlawful act punishable as
a misdemeanor for any person to operate upon a public road of the State any
equipment exempted from permit requirements by the provisions of Code Section
32-6-25, O.C.G.A., when such exempted equipment is wider than one lane of such public
road and the operator of such exempted equipment has not provided both front
and rear escorts thereof.
(c)
Otherwise the following escort requirements shall apply:
1. LENGTH
(i) For any permitted load whose length
exceeds 75' but is less than or equal to 100', a Rear Escort/Amber Light is
required.
(ii) For any permitted
load whose length exceeds 100' but is less than or equal to 125', a Vehicle
Rear Escort is required.
(iii) For
any permitted load whose length is greater than 125', a Vehicle Front and
Vehicle Rear Escort is required.
2. HEIGHT
(i) For any permitted load whose height is
fifteen feet six inches (15' 6") or greater, a Vehicle Front Escort with a
Height Sensor is required unless the hauler has a valid trip approval ticket
from NJUNS (National Joint Utilities Notification Service).
3. WIDTH
(i) For any permitted load whose width
exceeds twelve feet (12') but is less than or equal to fourteen feet eight
inches (14'8"), a Vehicle Front Escort and a Rear Escort/Amber Lights is
required for travel on a two (2) lane road. A Vehicle Rear Escort only is
required for the same permitted load to travel on a four (4) lane road. For
travel upon a Limited Access Highway, a Rear Escort/Amber Lights only are
required.
(ii) For any permitted
load whose width exceeds fourteen feet eight inches (14'8") up to and including
sixteen feet (16'), a Vehicle Front Escort and a Vehicle Rear Escort is
required for movement upon a two (2) lane highway. A Vehicle Rear Escort only
is required for movement of the same permitted load on a four (4) or more lane
road or a Limited Access Highway.
(iii) For permitted loads whose width exceeds
sixteen feet (16') wide or for loads not defined above, the Department shall
determine escort requirements on a case by case basis and may require a vehicle
Police Escort with operating blue lights displaying their
jurisdiction.
O.C.G.A. Secs.
32-2-2, 32-6-28, 32-6-90, 50-13-4.
