South Dakota

South Dakota Highway Patrol
Motor Carrier Services
118 West Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-2000
PHONE: (605) 773-4578

Hours of Business

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Central time)

Escorts

When escorts are needed and # of escorts required

  • Width over 16' on interstate: 1 escort (Rear)
  • Width over 20' on state highways: 1 escort (Front if 2-lane highway and Rear if multi-lane)
  • The permit issuing authority may also require escort vehicles because of route limitations, traffic conditions, or unusual permit vehicle configuration conditions.

Black Hills Area: Except on US 16 from Rapid City to the Keystone Wye and on US 18, a vehicle that exceeds a width of 10' must be accompanied by a front escort when operating on state highways in the Black Hills Area. The Black Hills Area is that area south and west of I-90 from the Wyoming State Line to Rapid City, west of SD 79 from Rapid City to the junction of SD 79 and US 18, west of US 18 from the junction of SD 79 and US 18 to Oelrichs, and west of US 385 from Oelrichs to the Nebraska State Line.

A local highway patrol trooper may waive the front escort requirement for a specified period of time on any section of state highway in the Black Hills Area if the highway has adequate geometrics to provide for the safe operation of the vehicle.

Escort vehicle requirements can differ significantly by state in terms of mandatory driver qualifications, training, certifications, vehicle weights, obligatory signage/flags/lighting, necessary onboard equipment, and more. The ODS team can provide you with all additional requirements specific to your route.

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