Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a)
General requirements for escort
vehicles. Any vehicle to be used as an escort vehicle must be either a
pickup truck of not less than one-quarter (1/4) ton rated load capacity or an
automobile of not less than 2,000 pounds. The escort vehicle must be properly
licensed under the statutes of the State of Oklahoma [47 O.S. § 1101 et
seq.] or properly licensed in another state If commercially licensed, an escort
for an intrastate move must obtain a temporary registration from the Oklahoma
Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Registration Division.
(b)
Identification of escort
vehicles. The owner of an escort vehicle must have displayed on each
side of the escort vehicle the name, city and state of the escort vehicle
company or operator, or the owner of the escort vehicle, or both. Such
identifying markings must be:
(1) Plainly
legible and visible to the motoring public.
(2) Readily legible during daylight hours
from a distance of fifty (50) feet while the vehicle is stationary.
(3) Kept and maintained in a manner to
preserve legibility.
(4) In a color
or colors which sharply contrast with the background on which they are
placed.
(c)
Equipment of escort vehicles. An escort vehicle must carry the
following items of equipment at all times when escorting an oversize/overweight
vehicle or load:
(1)
Flags. Red
flags shall be at least twelve (12) inches square and shall be attached to
standards angled upward to the left and right at forty-five (45) degrees and
mounted on the top of the cab. No flags shall be displayed unless the escort
vehicle is actually engaged in escorting.
(2)
Mirrors. The vehicle shall
be equipped with an outside rear-view mirror on each side of the
vehicle.
(3)
Radio.
Escort and towing vehicles shall be equipped with a two-way radio which is
capable of transmitting and receiving voice messages over a minimum distance of
one (1) mile and which is compatible with radios in the escorted vehicle and
any other escort vehicle(s).
(4)
Fire extinguisher. One (1) ten-pound or two (2) five-pound ABC
fire extinguishers. Extinguishers shall be checked annually to ensure they are
operational.
(5)
Flares or
reflectors. Four (4) LED type flares, three (3) traffic cones or three
(3) portable triangle reflector units.
(6)
Sign. The regulation
"Oversize Load" sign, as provided in
730:50-5-15(a),
except that sign shall be at least ten (10) inches high, shall be mounted
either on the front or the roof of front escort vehicles and on the rear or on
the roof of the rear escort vehicle while escorting an oversize vehicle or
load. The sign shall be clearly visible without an obstruction. No signs shall
be displayed unless the escort vehicle is actually engaged in
escorting.
(7)
Warning
lights. One AAMVA-approved rotating or flashing amber beacon or a
flashing amber light bar system shall be mounted on top of the escort vehicle
and shall be of sufficient intensity when illuminated to be visible from five
hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight, and shall rotate, oscillate, or flash
through 360 degrees. Blue lights are strictly prohibited and, red, or white
rotating lights are not authorized under Oklahoma statutes. In addition:
(A) Headlights of escort vehicles shall be
lighted at all times during movement.
(B) Warning lights in conformance with 47
O.S. § 12-220(B) may be used in conjunction with the headlights.
(C) No warning lights shall be displayed
unless the escort vehicle is actually engaged in escorting.
(8)
Measuring pole. A current
height measuring pole made of non-conductive, flexible, non-fragile material
when escorting a load or vehicle which is fifteen (15) feet and nine (9) inches
or more in height.
(9)
Traffic control sign. Two (2) "STOP" and "SLOW" paddle signs at
least 18" inches in diameter with letters at least 6" high with a reflective
surface which meets standards set by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices.
(10)
Safety
clothing. A hard hat and a jacket or vest, both of which meet standards
set by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, for each person who may
be assigned to traffic control, setting reflectors or any other duties
conducted on or near a roadway.
(11)
Flashlight. At least one
operating handheld flashlight that is visible for at least 500 feet.
(12)
Spare tire. A full-size
spare tire for the escort vehicle, tire jack and lug
wrench.
(d)
Prohibitions when operating escort vehicles. The escort vehicle
shall not:
(1) Carry any item, equipment, or
load in or upon the vehicle which:
(A)
Exceeds the height, length, or width of the vehicle, overhangs the escort
vehicle; or otherwise impairs its immediate recognition as an escort vehicle by
the motoring public.
(B) Impairs
the view of the operator of the escort vehicle or the escorted
vehicle.
(C) Obstructs the view of
signs or flags used by the escort vehicle or causes safety risks to the
motoring public.
(D) Impairs the
performance of the escort vehicle.
(2) Tow any trailer or other vehicle, except
that an escort vehicle operator not required to be certified by the Department
may tow a trailer when escorting a manufactured home. Such trailer
shall not exceed eight and one-half (8 1/2) feet in width and twenty (20) feet
in length with siding not to exceed four (4) feet in height measured from the
bed of the trailer. The trailer may only be used to transport supplies and
equipment necessary to carry out the mission of escort vehicle
operators [47 O.S. § 14-120.1(C)] and shall not be used to carry
other supplies, equipment, or cargo.
(3) The operator of the escort vehicle shall
not perform as a tillerman or steerman while performing escort operations. A
passenger in the escort vehicle may act as a steerman. For purposes of this
paragraph, "tillerman" means a person who is physically located on the CMV, has
a valid commercial driver license and who operates by remote control or other
means any axle of the CMV; "steerman" means a person who is not physically
located on the CMV, not required to have a valid commercial driver license, and
who operates by remote control or other means any axle of the CMV.
(e)
Duties of escort vehicle
operators.
(1)
Traffic
control. In the performance of duties as the operator of an escort
vehicle, the operator is authorized to direct traffic to stop, slow down or
proceed in situations where such direction is necessary to allow traffic or the
escorted vehicle or load to continue moving safely. Pilot/Escort operators must
be trained and certified to perform the above duties according to MUTCD
(Section 6E.01 Qualifications for Flaggers.
(A) The operator of the escort vehicle shall
require the escorted vehicle or load to stop, and the escorted vehicle shall
move as far off of the roadway as practicable and stop to allow other traffic
to pass, under the following conditions:
(i)
When the escorted vehicle or load becomes disabled.
(ii) When the movement of the escorted
vehicle or load on a particular section of roadway presents a safety risk or
unreasonable risk to or unreasonably interferes with the efficient movement of
other traffic, based upon such factors as the widths of the escorted vehicle or
load, roadway, volume of traffic, limited visibility, or mountainous
terrain.
(iii) When driving
conditions for the escorted vehicle or load are hazardous for any reason
including weather.
(B)
When the escorted vehicle or load stops, the escort vehicle operator shall
direct other traffic past the escorted vehicle or load as necessary until such
time as the escorted vehicle or load can reenter the roadway and continue
moving without presenting a safety risk or unreasonably interfering with
efficient movement of other traffic.
(C) Escort vehicle operators when performing
escort duties shall have their driver's license and escort certification on
their person and present them for inspection at the request of any law
enforcement officer.
(2)
Escort vehicle operation.
(A)
The operator of an escort vehicle must comply with all applicable traffic laws
of this state and with the requirements of this Chapter when escorting a
vehicle on all routes of the state highway system, including but not limited to
the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System for Interstate and Defense Highways,
all turnpikes, and such other roads, streets, or public ways that the Oklahoma
Department of Transportation shall deem appropriate.
(B) On two-lane highways, the first escort
vehicle will travel far enough to the front and the second escort vehicle, if
required, will travel far enough to the rear of the escorted vehicle or load to
timely warn approaching motorists. On multi-lane highways, the first escort
vehicle will travel far enough to the rear of the escorted vehicle or load to
timely warn motorists approaching from the rear.
(C) The operator of an escort shall not:
(i) possess, use, or be under the influence
of alcohol, or have any measurable alcohol concentration within four (4) hours
before or at any time while operating or in actual physical control of any
escort vehicle.
(ii) use alcohol or
be under the influence of alcohol within 4 hours before going on duty or while
operating or having actual physical control of an escort vehicle; or
(iii) use alcohol, be under the influence of
alcohol, or have any measured alcohol concentration or detected presence of
alcohol, while on duty, or operating, or in physical control of an escort
vehicle.
(iv) Operate an escort
vehicle and be in possession of wine, beer, or distilled spirits.
(v) be on duty and possess, be under the
influence of, or use, any of the following drugs or other substances:
(I) Any Title 63 O.S. §
2-204 Schedule I
substance;
(II) An amphetamine or
any formulation thereof;
(III) A
narcotic drug or any derivative thereof; or
(IV) Any other substance, to a degree which
renders the driver incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.
(f)
Insurance. Each certified escort vehicle operator who operates in
interstate commerce, and on and after August 1, 2012, each certified escort
vehicle operator, shall maintain a valid insurance policy issued by an
insurance company currently authorized to issue policies of insurance covering
risks in the State of Oklahoma, and proof of insurance shall be carried in the
escort vehicle at all times. The insurance policy shall protect the public
against loss of life, bodily injury to persons, and damage to property, as
evidenced by a current certificate of insurance, including any applicable
endorsement, which indicates that the operator, or the operator's employer, has
in full force and effect insurance coverage for bodily injury or property
damage, or both, as a result of the operation of the escort vehicle or of the
actions of escort vehicle operator, or of both, causing the bodily injury or
property damage, or both, arising out of an act or omission by the escort
vehicle operator relating to the escort duties required by this chapter. The
insurance shall be no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit or $1,000,000
per occurrence, or both, of commercial liability coverage, as applicable, and
must be maintained at all times during the term of the certification.
