# COMAR Title 11 — Department of Transportation

## Subtitle 04 — State Highway Administration

### Chapter 04 — Oversize and Overweight Vehicles — Escort Vehicles, Signing, and Lighting

**Authority:** Transportation Article, §§2-103(b), 4-204, 4-205(f), 8-204(b)—(d),(i), 24-112, 24-113, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: May 20, 1975 (2:10 Md. R. 752)

**Administrative History:** Chapter revised effective July 20, 1977 (4:15 Md. R. 1146)

**Administrative History:** Chapter recodified from COMAR 11.04.08 to 11.04.04

**Administrative History:** Chapter repealed effective August 1, 1984 (11:15 Md. R. 1332)

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.06 adopted effective August 1, 1984 (11:15 Md. R. 1332)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01A, C amended effective October 23, 1995 (22:21 Md. R. 1616)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01B amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76); March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .01D adopted effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02A, C amended effective October 23, 1995 (22:21 Md. R. 1616)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02B amended effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02D amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02E adopted effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .03A amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .04 amended effective October 23, 1995 (22:21 Md. R. 1616); March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .04B, D amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .05D amended effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .05E amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06A amended effective October 23, 1995 (22:21 Md. R. 1616)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06B, C amended effective December 24, 2012 (39:25 Md. R. 1614)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06C amended effective February 1, 1998 (25:2 Md. R. 76)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .06C, D amended effective March 22, 2010 (37:6 Md. R. 479)

#### Regulation .01 Signing.

*COMAR 11.04.04.01*

A. When a permittee or user moves a permit vehicle that exceeds 9 feet in width on highways in the State, the permittee shall display, on the front and rear of the vehicle, wide load or oversize load signs conforming to the specifications in §B of this regulation.

B. Specifications.

  (1) Permit Vehicle.

    (a) A permit vehicle shall display the words “wide load” or “oversize load” in black letters not less than 10 inches high, with a brush stroke not less than 1 5/8 inches wide.

    (b) The letters shall appear on a yellow background, 18 inches high and 7 feet wide.

  (2) Escort Vehicle. An escort vehicle shall display a “wide load” or “oversize load” sign either on the roof of the vehicle or on the front and rear of the vehicle that is at least 5 feet wide and 12 inches high with letters 8 inches high. The sign shall be clearly visible to traffic approaching the escort vehicle.

C. While the permit vehicle is moving on any highway in the State, the signing requirements of §§A and B of this regulation apply regardless of the permit vehicle's state of origin.

D. Placement of signs required by this regulation may not interfere with the visibility of brake lights, turn signals, or any other required lamps or signals on the vehicle.

#### Regulation .02 Escorts — General.

*COMAR 11.04.04.02*

A. A permittee shall be required to provide one or more private escort vehicles for an oversize or overweight permit move as indicated in Regulation .03 of this chapter. A permit move may be a vehicle with a load including manufactured housing (mobile home or modular unit) or a vehicle alone.

B. Monitoring of the permit move by State Highway Administration personnel may be required as determined by the State Highway Administration.

C. An escort by uniformed police is required as indicated in Regulation .06 of this chapter.

D. The Maryland Transportation Authority may require that a permit vehicle be escorted while traveling a toll facility.

E. Escort Vehicle. An escort vehicle:

  (1) May not escort more than one oversize or overweight vehicle or load; and

  (2) Shall be:

    (a) Behind an overlength vehicle or load;

    (b) Behind an overwidth vehicle or load on a multilane highway; and

    (c) In front of an overwidth vehicle or load on a two-lane highway.

#### Regulation .03 Private Escort — When Required.

*COMAR 11.04.04.03*

A. One Escort. The permittee shall provide one escort vehicle for a permit move while it is traveling any highway in the State if the permit move is:

  (1) More than 13 feet wide, unless the load is a manufactured housing unit;

  (2) More than 85 feet long;

  (3) 14 feet 6 inches high or more (pole vehicle required);

  (4) More than 60 tons gross weight;

  (5) Construction equipment over 12 feet wide traveling off the interstate system; or

  (6) Traveling when weather or road conditions justify the requirement of one escort vehicle.

B. Two Escorts. The permittee shall provide two escort vehicles for a permit move if the permit move is:

  (1) 14 feet wide or more including a load that is a manufactured housing unit;

  (2) 140 feet long or more;

  (3) Traveling a road too narrow to allow other vehicles to pass safely in either direction;

  (4) Traveling against traffic that will have to be diverted or stopped; or

  (5) Traveling when weather or road conditions justify the requirement of two escort vehicles.

#### Regulation .04 Private Escort — Equipment and Responsibilities.

*COMAR 11.04.04.04*

A. Communication. All private escort drivers and the permit driver shall be equipped with a two-way radio. The drivers shall maintain constant communication except for intermittent interruptions which may be caused by the terrain or atmospheric conditions, or directed by posting as in blasting areas.

B. Lighting.

  (1) A private escort vehicle shall have at least one oscillating or rotating roof light, yellow in color, at least 3 inches in diameter and visible to the front and rear.

  (2) Headlights of the escort and escorted vehicle shall be illuminated while conducting the move.

  (3) Simultaneously flashing hazard warning lamps shall be used by the operator of a permit vehicle when the vehicle is traveling 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

C. An escort vehicle shall display a sign as specified in Regulation .01 of this chapter.

D. Position.

  (1) Escort vehicles shall travel not more than 300 feet to the front or rear of the escorted vehicle and not closer to the escorted vehicle than is reasonable and prudent under prevailing speed and weather conditions.

  (2) When one escort vehicle is required, it shall follow the escorted vehicle on any highway with two or more lanes in one direction, and it shall precede the escorted vehicle on any highway with only one lane in each direction. When transitioning from a multilane to a two-way highway, every effort shall be made for the escort vehicle to precede the escorted vehicle prior to entering the single lane portion of the highway.

  (3) When a pole vehicle escort is required, the pole vehicle shall precede the escorted vehicle at a distance sufficient to adequately warn the escorted vehicle of an overhead obstruction.

  (4) When two escort vehicles are required, one shall follow and the other shall precede the escorted vehicle.

E. Responsibilities.

  (1) The purpose of an escort vehicle is to enhance safety by alerting the traveling public to the presence or approach of a permit vehicle and to reduce delays to the normal flow of traffic.

  (2) The escort driver reviews the route and any special requirements or instructions with the permit driver. The permit driver, together with the escort driver, assures that signs are secured, lights are turned on and working, and two-way radios are working and appropriate channel selected.

  (3) The front escort warns oncoming traffic of the presence of the permit vehicle, assists the permit driver to assure the permit route is being followed, and by radio notifies the permit driver of narrow structures, hazards, obstructions, pedestrians, and other potential problems that would affect the safe movement of the load and the traveling public.

  (4) The rear escort warns approaching traffic of the presence of the permit vehicle, notifies the permit driver of flat tires and objects coming loose, and notifies front escort and permit driver of traffic buildup and motorists attempting to pass.

#### Regulation .05 Escorted Vehicles — General Restrictions.

*COMAR 11.04.04.05*

A. A person may not move an escorted vehicle on the interstate system if the movement would constitute a special traffic hazard.

B. When escort is required, each permit vehicle requires its own escort.

C. Each permit vehicle with escort shall maintain a 1-mile distance from another escorted permit vehicle traveling in the same direction.

D. If traffic buildup behind a permit move becomes heavy (considered to be in excess of six cars including any escort), the entire move shall safely leave the roadway when there is sufficient room to do so to allow traffic to pass.

E. Convoying. A person, except a State or federal military authority or by special authorization of the Director, Office of Traffic and Safety, State Highway Administration, may not convoy or group vehicles which must be escorted.

#### Regulation .06 Police Escort.

*COMAR 11.04.04.06*

A. In addition to the private escort required under Regulation .03 of this chapter, the permittee shall also provide for police escort for certain permit moves.

B. The permittee shall provide for police escort for any permit move which is 16 feet wide or more or in excess of 75 tons gross weight.

C. The State Highway Administration Hauling Permits Unit may require police escort if:

  (1) The permit move has a gross weight between 65 and 75 tons;

  (2) Traffic will have to be diverted or stopped;

  (3) The move will affect either:

    (a) Two or more lanes of traffic on a highway having two or more lanes in one direction; or

    (b) Both lanes of traffic on a highway having only one lane in each direction; or

  (4) The circumstances are considered necessary for public safety.

D. Payment of Costs. The permittee is responsible for costs incurred by the law enforcement agency in the course of escorting the permittee's oversize or overweight vehicle. The costs will be assessed as determined by the State Highway Administration Hauling Permits Unit.