Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 73 - WEIGHTS, MEASURES AND STANDARDS
Part I - Weights and Standards
Chapter 19 - Escort Requirements for Oversize and/or Overweight Vehicles or Loads
Section I-1901 - Provision Enforcement

1. An oversize and/or overweight permit is required for each escort movement. The driver of the escort vehicle shall make certain that a permit has been issued and shall familiarize himself with and abide by requirements of the issued permit. The Department of Transportation and Development has authority to require and to regulate escorts under the provisions of R.S. 32:327.C and R.S. 32:387.B(3).

2. The escorting vehicle shall be registered in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes or reciprocal agreement. Closed vans, buses, campers, motor homes, and motor driven cycles are not acceptable. Louisiana based automobiles used as escort vehicles are no longer considered private passenger vehicles and, therefore, must carry commercial plates. If the escort vehicle is domiciled outside the state of Louisiana, a 48-hour trip permit is required for intrastate movements, otherwise escorting is limited to interstate movement only.

3. At no time may an escort vehicle pull a trailer or tow another vehicle.

4. Each company which operates an escort service in this state and which is domiciled in another state shall register annually with the secretary in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the secretary. Proof is required that each vehicle operated in this state by the applicant is insured in the same amount as is required for escort companies domiciled in this state. Each driver of an escort vehicle must have a valid operator's license issued by a state or territory of the U.S. The fee for each application for registration is $10. A 48-hour trip permit is required for intrastate movements, otherwise escorting is limited to interstate movement only.

5. All statutory provisions must be complied with; except those waived by the permit or "Escorting Procedures" stipulated herein.

6. All applicants for escort vehicles shall provide proof to the Department of Transportation and Development Weights and Standards officer of insurance for not less than $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $50,000 for injury to or destruction of property to others in any one accident. Applicant shall sign an affidavit that said coverage of insurance will remain effective for the duration of the permits.

7. An escort driver, domiciled in Louisiana, must be licensed with a appropriate "D" or "E" license.

8. The driver of the escort vehicle must be able to read and understand this directive.

9. The driver of the escorting vehicle is responsible for the movement and shall ensure that the escorted vehicle is operated in a manner consistent with these provisions and all provisions on the permit. In the event the driver of the escorted vehicle does not, or refuses to operate in accordance with these stipulations, the driver of the escort vehicle shall terminate the movement and report this action to the proper company officials or local police authority or to the Department of Transportation and Development Weights and Standards Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge (225) 377-7100.

10. It shall be the responsibility of the driver of the escort vehicle to operate as a warning vehicle only. The driver shall not run traffic lights, fail to stop at stop signs, improperly pass, etc. His authorization to warn motorists of danger shall not imply that the vehicle is or should be used as a police and/or emergency vehicle.

11. Escorts and flagmen (when flagmen are required) engaged in escorting loads on the highways of the state of Louisiana shall present a neat appearance and shall be courteous in their contact with the motoring public at all times.

12. All costs incidental to escorts, such as telephone calls, telegrams, etc., shall be borne by the escort or permittee.

13. The equipment and permit required on escort vehicles shall be available for inspection on demand of proper authorities.

14. Payment for escort service shall be determined by the escort and the permittee.

15. Self or private escorts shall not escort any movement in excess of 16 feet wide on two-lane highways or multi-lane highways. Escorts must be furnished for all movements in excess of 12 feet in width or in excess of 90 feet in length and for any other movement when so designated by the Department of Transportation and Development or the Office of State Police.

16. No current full-time employee of the Department of Transportation and Development shall be used for or engage in self or private escort service. Under the existing policy of the Department of Public Safety, Office of State Police, an off-duty trooper or DPS police officer working in uniform may serve as escort for movements of oversize and/or overweight loads.

17. In the event a state police escort is required, the permittee shall pay the escort fee, or any portion thereof, in addition to pay of the off-duty trooper or DPS police officer.

18. Escorts of house movements, overweight loads when required by the Department of Transportation and Development, and other loads needing police authority during movement, shall be escorted by the Office of State Police, unless made within a city's limits where the authority may be the city police.

19. The owner and/or operator of the escort vehicle agrees to hold harmless the Department of Transportation and Development and its duly appointed agents and employees against any action for personal injury or property damage sustained by reason of the authority to escort an oversize load.

20. The Department of Transportation and Development Weights and Standards Police of the Office of State Police, will determine that proper escort procedures are complied with and shall have full authority to enforce all provisions of the permit and escort regulations. The authority to revoke the escort vehicle permit shall rest with the Department of Transportation and Development.

1. In accordance with the requirements of R.S. 32:327, the escort vehicle shall display an approved 360° "Emergency Warning Lamp." Approval is gained from a list of certified safety devices furnished to the Department of Transportation and Development by the Department of Public Safety. This partial list includes bar, strobe, revolving, and stationary lamps. The warning lamp shall be amber in color and shall meet SAE J845 and SAE J595 "Standard and Specifications for Use and Performance," however a dome type lamp must have a lens (amber portion) of not less than 9 inches in diameter and 4 inches in vertical height to meet escort vehicle permit equipment requirements for the state of Louisiana. The base of the warning lamp (amber portion) shall be mounted at a point atop the vehicle at a minimum of 60 inches from the roadway.

2. There shall be two solid red/fluorescent orange flags, 18 inches square, mounted other than vertical or horizontal atop the escort vehicle (at approximately a 45 degree angle). These flags are not to extend more than 6 inches on either side of the vehicle and shall in no event exceed 8 feet 0 inches in width. Flags shall be mounted in line with the warning lamp(s).

3. The escort vehicle must have the name and address or telephone number and city of the company/owner of the escort vehicle on each front door of the vehicle, plainly legible and visible to the motoring public. Well known company logos are acceptable.

4. The escorting vehicle shall be equipped with two rear view mirrors, one on each side, so as to provide vision to the rear to ensure movement is progressing safely.

5. Headlights and rear lights on the escort vehicle and the vehicle being escorted shall be lighted during movement.

6. The escort and towing vehicle shall be equipped with radios such that communication between vehicles is possible. The escort vehicle will be responsible for advising the towing vehicle of any conditions arising that may require cautionary action such as reducing speed, pulling off the roadway, etc.

7. The escorting vehicle shall be equipped and have readily accessible a 10-pound BC dry or equivalent chemical type fire extinguisher, four 15-minute burning flares and two red/fluorescent orange hand held flags. In addition, the vehicle must have available four red/fluorescent orange flags that are 18 inches square and two signs with the wording "oversize load." These signs must be 18 inches high and 7 feet in length. The lettering must be black on a yellow background and is to be 10 inches high with 1 5/8 inch brush stroke.

8. For all overheight loads it is strongly recommended that a clearance bar of some design be attached to the escort vehicle to warn of clearance problems of the load being escorted.

1. Speed limit for the escort load is to be determined by the issuing authority, and in any event shall not exceed 45 mph.

2. Movement shall be made on only those highways designated on the permit. Alternate routes shall not be used unless approved by the issuing authority.

3. Restricted permit movement hours must be adhered to on specifically designated sections of the Interstate System and the Greater New Orleans area bridges.

4. Movement shall be made only on dates and/or during times shown on the permit. No movement shall be made during hours of darkness unless prior approval is obtained from the issuing authority and the Office of State Police.

5. An escorted movement approaching any bridge structure which cannot be traversed safely because of inability to distinguish potential hazards by sight shall be parked (off the roadway where possible) and the escort vehicle shall proceed across said bridge (hill or incline). Adequate time shall be allotted to allow the escort vehicle to stop oncoming traffic before the oversize movement traverses said bridge, hill, or incline.

6. Escorted movements will not impede the normal flow of traffic whenever possible. Whenever vehicular traffic to the rear becomes congested, it is required that the escort driver cause the movement to be halted onto the shoulder or safe location. The movement shall remain off the main-traveled portion of the roadway until traffic has cleared. Movement may then continue until congestion reoccurs.

7. Movement shall not be made during severe inclement weather (heavy rain, fog, etc.). When the movement is in progress and severe inclement weather occurs, it shall be the responsibility of the escort driver to have the oversize load removed from the traveled portion of the highway to a safe location.

8. The operator of the escort vehicle will ensure that the oversize movement is not allowed to park on the main-traveled portion of the highway unless absolutely necessary or in case of extreme emergency. Anytime the combination is parked on the highway right-of-way, it shall be adequately protected by flares, flags, flagmen, etc.

9. The escort vehicle shall travel to the rear of the overwidth movement on multi-lane highways and in front of the escorted load on two-lane highways. The escort must be behind overlength vehicles and loads. All escort vehicles must cross the Department of Transportation and Development's stationary scales along with the escorted load.

10. The oversize load shall travel as near to the right side of the roadway as is safely possible to insure that traffic will be able to pass safely. The escort and escorted load shall not infringe upon the opposite bound lane whenever possible.

11. A single escort may be used to escort one or two over length loads in one movement.

12. An escort will be required for each overwidth load exceeding 12 feet in width.

13. The number of escort vehicles needed for overweight escort loads and "critical off-road" equipment will be stipulated by the Department of Transportation and Development in their authorization to move the load, as well as any additional restrictions.

14. The escort vehicle shall maintain a sufficient distance from the movement to warn oncoming traffic of the potential danger, but not so far as to hinder control over the movement.

15. Violators of these provisions or requirements shall be subject to all penalties provided by law and may have any and all escort permits revoked.

1. Before any escort vehicle permit and decal can be issued, the following requirements must be met.