Virginia

Escorts

When escorts are needed and number of escorts required

Width	Non-Interstate	Interstate
12’1 – 14’	2 (1 Front + 1 Rear)	1 Rear
14’1” – 16’	3 (2 Front + 1 Rear)	2 (1 Front + 1 Rear)
16’1” – 18’	4 (2 Front + 2 Rear)	3 (1 Front + 2 Rear)
Any load exceeding 18’ wide and/or 200' long will be escorted on a case by case basis
Height
Greater than 14’5”	1 Front with high pole	1 Front with high pole
Length
90’1” – 120’	1 Rear	No escort needed
120’1” – 150’	1 Rear	1 Rear
150’1” – 200’	2 (1 Front + 1 Rear)	2 (1 Front + 1 Rear)
Any load exceeding 200’ long will be escorted on a case-by-case basis
Overhang
Exceeding 10’ front	1 Front	1 Front
Exceeding 15’ rear	1 Rear	1 Rear

Locality-specific escort guidelines

Chesapeak

• Width exceeding 10’7” up to 12’ requires 1 Front escort on all routes. Rear escort also required on 2-lane undivided highways.
• Length exceeding 13’7” up to 14’ requires 1 Front escort on all routes. Rear escort also required on 2-lane undivided highways.
• Length exceeding 85’ requires 1 rear escort on all routes.

Hampton

• Width exceeding 10’ up to 10’6” requires 1 Front escort on all routes.
• Width exceeding 10’7” up to 12’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.
• Side overhang exceeding 3’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.

Henrico

• Width exceeding 10’1” up to 12’ requires 1 Front escort on all routes.
• Width exceeding 12’1” up to 14’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.

Newport News

• Width exceeding 9’1” up to 10’ requires 1 Rear escort on 2-lane, 2-way areterial, collector or residential roads.
• Width exceeding 10’1” up to 11’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on 2-lane, 2-way areterial, collector or residential roads.
• Width exceeding 11’ requires 1 Rear escort on multilane arterial roads and 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on 2-lane, 2-way areterial, collector or residential roads.
• Length exceeding 65’ requires 1 Rear escort on 2-lane, 2-way areterial, collector or residential roads.

Norfolk

• Width exceeding 9’1” up to 10’6” requires 1 Rear escort on all routes.
• Width exceeding 10’6” requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.
• Length exceeding 65’ requires 1 Rear escort on all routes.

Portsmouth

• Width exceeding 10’6” requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.
• Length exceeding 85’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.
• Any rear overhang requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.

Suffolk

• Width exceeding 8’7” up to 10’ requires 1 Front escort on secondary routes.
• Width exceeding 10’1” up to 12’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on secondary routes.
• Width exceeding 11’1” up to 12’ requires 1 rear escort on primary routes and 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on secondary routes.

Virginia Beach

• Width exceeding 10’7” up to 12’ requires 2 escorts (Front and Rear) on all routes.
• Front overhang exceeding 10’ requires Front escort on all routes.
• Rear overhang exceeding 4’ requires rear escort on all routes.

Big Walker Mountains Tunnel

• Vehicles over 12' in width traveling through the Big Walker Mountains tunnel on Interstate 77 must be accompanied by a Rear escort.
• When load height exceeds 14', 2 escorts are required (Front and Rear) and permittee must travel on the centerline through East River and Big Walker Mountain tunnels.

Super loads:

A super load is any load that exceeds the routine weight chart, whether gross weight, axle weight or routine dimensions, generally 15’1” wide, 15' high (depending on permit type), and 150' long.

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.