Section 554.408  Requirements for Civilian Escorts

The requirements for civilian escort vehicles and drivers are as follows:

a)         A civilian escort vehicle may be a passenger car, or a second division vehicle not exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 8,000 pounds that is designed to afford clear and unobstructed vision both front and rear.

b)         All escort vehicle operators shall be 18 years of age or over and properly licensed to operate the vehicle.

c)         The vehicle must be equipped with rotating or flashing amber lights mounted on top that are of sufficient intensity, when illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.

d)         When operating on a two-lane highway, the escort vehicle shall travel ahead of the load and the rotating or flashing lights and an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign shall be displayed on the escort vehicle and be visible from the front. When operating on a mulitlane divided highway, the escort vehicle shall trail the load and the signs and lights shall be visible from the rear. If two escort vehicles are required, one escort will travel ahead of the load and the second escort will trail the load.

e)         Escort vehicles shall travel approximately 300 feet in front of the load on two-lane highways and the same distance to the rear on multilane highways in rural areas.  However, the required escort vehicle with a height pole for overheight movements must travel in front of the load. When traveling within the corporate limits of a city or town, the escort vehicle shall maintain a reasonable and proper distance consistent with existing traffic conditions.

f)         A separate escort shall be provided for each load hauled under permit. Movements in convoys are prohibited unless a State Police escort vehicle is also required, then the Permit Office may authorize convoy movement for multiple loads.

g)         The operator of the escort vehicle shall obey all traffic laws.

h)         The escorting vehicle shall be in safe operational condition.

i)          The driver of the escort vehicle must be in radio contact with the driver of the permit vehicle.

j)          Owners and/or operators of escort vehicles must have in effect or be self-insured in the minimum amount of $500,000 per occurrence combined bodily injury and property damage.

k)         A pole for measuring vertical clearances shall be mounted on escort vehicles leading loads in excess of 14 feet 6 inches in height.  The escort driver shall alert the driver of the permit vehicle to any overhead obstructions that will not clear the load.

(Source:  Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 13232, effective July 29, 1988)