British Columbia

Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement SUBJECT: PILOT CAR AND SIGN REQUIREMENTS DATE ISSUED 2007-03-20 COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT PROCEDURES MANUAL SECTION BULLETIN PAGE REPLACING 3 29 1 Bulletin 29 – Pilot Car and Sign Requirements

1. 1. PILOT CARS:

Division 8 of the Commercial Transport Act Regulations prescribes the minimum standards for signs, flags, lights and vehicles used as pilot cars. Pilot cars are limited to the following categories:

1. (a) Passenger cars
2. (b) Single commercial vehicles not exceeding 5 500 kg

1. 2. A guide to pilot car requirements on PROVINCIAL HIGHWAYS is as follows:

1. (i) NUMBER OF PILOT CARS REQUIRED

	WIDTH
LENGTH	3.5 m	to 3.8 m	To 4.4 m
Up to 27.5 m	Nil *	1	1
Over 27.5 m	1**	1** See Note*	2**
Over 36 m	2***	2**	2**

1. (a) It is a condition of pilot car exemption during daylight hours for loads in excess of 3.2 m up to 3.5 m in width and up to 27.5 m long that the towing unit be equipped with and operating 1 or 2 rotating or strobe lights amber in colour placed on top of the cab. The minimum acceptable sizes are 15 cm diameter for rotating lamps and 11 cm diameter for strobes. Minimum height of 12 cm applies to both lamps which must emit light flashes 360 degrees. For loads/vehicles exceeding 3.5 metres in width or 27.5 metres in length, these lights on the towing unit may be used for additional safety. Also for vehicle loads restricted under T-53A/T-53Cand T-55/T-55A forms, amber lamps/beacons may be used for additional safety at the rear of the vehicle load.
2. (i) **See Form T-53A/T-53C for loads over 3.2 m wide. One pilot car is required when travel is permitted during the hours of darkness from 12:01 a.m. Mondays to daylight Fridays (excluding holidays). (November 2004)
3. (ii) **Additional pilot cars may be required depending on actual size of load and route of travel.
   1. (iii) ***2 Pilot Cars required except for travel over 4 lane highways.
4. (iv) See Form T-55 for loads 3.8 m wide. Two pilot cars are required when travel is permitted during the hours of darkness from 12:01 a.m. Mondays to daylight Fridays (excluding holidays).

Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement SUBJECT: PILOT CAR AND SIGN REQUIREMENTS DATE ISSUED 2007-03-20 COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT PROCEDURES MANUAL SECTION BULLETIN PAGE REPLACING 3 29 2

1. (v) For Mobile Homes see T-53C and T-55A for Pilot Car Requirements.
2. (vi) Poles or piling over 27.5 m: One pilot car. If hauled on special equipment that will allow movement without rear of the load extending over the center line, the maximum length may be extended to 31 m before a pilot car is required.
3. (vii) If oversize is caused by overlength and not exceeding 3.2 m in width, the pilot car will travel to the rear.
4. (viii) Other commodities Transported on Semi-Trailer, Flatdecks or Lowbeds: Front projection beyond 3 m of the kingpin or beyond 6.5 m measured forward of the turn center (front steering axle(s)) required one pilot car. Rear projection beyond 6.5 metres of turn center requires one pilot car. Additional pilot cars may be required if the move is over a road considered hazardous. Two pilot cars will be required if the load exceeds 3.8 metres and the front projection is in excess of 3 metres and/or a rear projection is in excess of 6.5 metres is present. (The two pilot cars while escorting an overwidth load with excessive front or rear projection on a four-lane or divided highway, will follow to the rear of the load.)
5. (ix) Front and rear projections exceeding dimensions in 2(e) by more than one metre must be cleared by Victoria Head Office, except those loads already authorized for example under Bulletin 24, Paragraph 4(b), Bulletin 41, Paragraph 5D, Bulletin 41, Paragraph 12 and Bulletin 42, Paragraph 1.
6. (x) Loads in excess of 31 m traveling in more than one Region must be cleared through Victoria Head Office (except heavy haul is permitted to 32 metres without prior clearance).

1. 3. A guide to pilot car requirements on the ALASKA HIGHWAY north of Mile 317 (Junction 77/97) to the Yukon border is as follows:

1. (a) NUMBER OF PILOT CARS REQUIRED

	WIDTH
LENGTH	3.5 m		to 3.8 m		to 4.4 m
Up to 27.5 m	Nil*		1		1
Over 27.5 m	1**		1** See Note*		2**
Over 36 m	2***		2**		2**

Towing vehicle must be equipped with and operate an amber flashing light.

Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement SUBJECT: PILOT CAR AND SIGN REQUIREMENTS DATE ISSUED 2007-03-20 COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT PROCEDURES MANUAL SECTION BULLETIN PAGE REPLACING 3 29 3

Note: Maximum overall length allowed on Highway 97 north of Junction 77, North of Fort Nelson is 36 metres.

Second pilot car not required on Highway #77

Additional Pilot Cars may be required depending on actual size and route of travel.

1. 4. One pilot car is required

1. (b) To the front when only the load projects more than 3 metres beyond the turning axis (kingpin)
2. (iii) To the front when only the load, boom or carne projects more than 6.5 metres forward of the turn center (front steering axle)
3. (iv) To the rear when only the rear overhang is more than 6.5 m beyond the turn center (exceptions cranes, mobile homes measured from center of last axle)

1. 5. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS:

When a vehicle or load is in excess of 3.5 m in width, the towing vehicle and pilot vehicle(s) shall be equipped with compatible two-way radios are required by applicable T-Form.

1. 6. SIGNS: REQUIRED ON OVERSIZE VEHICLE/LOAD

1. (a) Up to and including 3.2 m wide: NOT REQUIRED
2. (b) Over 3.2 m wide and up to 3.5 m wide LOAD, D Sign, or oversize load sign required front and rear.
3. (c) Over 3.5 m wide: Wide Load, oversize load or D Sign required front and rear and on Pilot Car.
4. (d) Over 25 m to 27.5 m: Required front and rear LONG LOAD oversize load, or "D" sign
5. (e) Over 27.5 m: Required front and rear LONG LOAD, oversize load or D signs and on Pilot Car.

Signs must comply with Division 8 of the Regulations.

By policy, D signs are acceptable at a width not less than 150 cm similar to oversize, long and wide load signs.