As of:
07/25/2009

595:30-3-17. Requirements for escort vehicles and escort vehicle operators

(a) General requirements for escort vehicles. Any vehicle to be used as an escort vehicle must be either a pickup truck of not less than one-quarter (1/4) ton rated load capacity or an automobile of not less than 2,000 pounds. The escort vehicle must be properly licensed under the statutes of the State of Oklahoma [47 O.S. § 1101 et seq.] or properly licensed in another state If commercially licensed, an escort for an intrastate move must obtain a temporary registration from the Oklahoma Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Registration Division.

(b) Identification of escort vehicles. The owner of an escort vehicle must have displayed on each side of the escort vehicle the name , city and state of the escort vehicle company or operator, or the owner of the escort vehicle, or both. Such identifying markings must be:
(1) Plainly legible and visible to the motoring public.
(2) Readily legible during daylight hours from a distance of fifty (50) feet while the vehicle is stationary.
(3) Kept and maintained in a manner to preserve legibility.
(4) In a color or colors which sharply contrast with the background on which they are placed.

(c) Equipment of escort vehicles. An escort vehicle must carry the following items of equipment at all times when escorting an oversize/overweight vehicle or load:
(1) Flags. Red flags shall be at least twelve (12) inches square and shall be attached to standards angled upward to the left and right at forty-five (45) degrees and mounted on the top of the cab. No flags shall be displayed unless the escort vehicle is actually engaged in escorting.
(2) Mirrors. The vehicle shall be equipped with an outside rear-view mirror on each side of the vehicle.
(3) Radio. Escort and towing vehicles shall be equipped with a two-way radio which is capable of transmitting and receiving voice messages over a minimum distance of one-half (1/2) mile and which is compatible with radios in the escorted vehicle and any other escort vehicle(s).
(4) Fire extinguisher. One (1) ten-pound or two (2) five-pound ABC fire extinguishers. Extinguishers shall be checked annually to ensure they are operational.
(5) Flares or reflectors. Four (4) fifteen minute flares or three (3) portable triangle reflector units.
(6) Sign. The regulation "Oversize Load" sign, as provided in 595:30-3-16, shall be mounted either on the front or the roof of front escort vehicles and on the rear of rear escort vehicles while escorting an oversize vehicle or load. The sign will be clearly visible without an obstruction. No signs shall be displayed unless the escort vehicle is actually engaged in escorting.
(7) Warning lights. One AAMVA-approved rotating or flashing amber beacon or a flashing amber light bar system shall be mounted on top of the escort vehicle and shall be of sufficient intensity when illuminated to be visible from five hundred (500) feet in normal sunlight, and shall rotate, oscillate or flash through 360 degrees. Blue, red, or white rotating lights are not authorized under Oklahoma statutes. In addition:
(A) Headlights of escort vehicles shall be lighted at all times during movement.
(B) Warning lights in conformance with 47 O.S. § 12-220(D) and § 12-227(C) may be used in conjunction with the headlights.
(C) No warning lights shall be displayed unless the escort vehicle is actually engaged in escorting.
(8) Measuring pole. A current height measuring pole made of non-conductive, flexible, non-fragile material when escorting a load or vehicle which is fifteen (15) feet and nine (9) inches or more in height.
(9) Traffic control sign. A standard eighteen (18) inch "STOP" and "SLOW" paddle sign.
(10) Safety clothing. A hard hat and a jacket or vest, both in safety orange color, for each person who may be assigned to traffic control, setting reflectors or any other duties conducted on or near a roadway.
(11) Flashlight. A flashlight equipped with and powered by at least two (2) D cell batteries.
(12) Spare tire. A full-size spare tire for the escort vehicle, tire jack and lug wrench.

(d) Prohibitions when operating escort vehicles. The escort vehicle shall not:
(1) Carry any item, equipment or load in or upon the vehicle which:
(A) Exceeds the height, length or width of the vehicle, overhangs the escort vehicle; or otherwise impairs its immediate recognition as an escort vehicle by the motoring public.
(B) Impairs the view of the operator of the escort vehicle or the escorted vehicle.
(C) Obstructs the view of signs or flags used by the escort vehicle or causes safety risks to the motoring public.
(D) Impairs the performance of the escort vehicle.
(2) Tow any trailer or other vehicle, except that an escort vehicle operator not required to be certified by the Department may tow a trailer when escorting a manufactured home. Such trailer shall not exceed eight and one-half (8 1/2) feet in width and twenty (20) feet in length with siding not to exceed four (4) feet in height measured from the bed of the trailer. The trailer may only be used to transport supplies and equipment necessary to carry out the mission of escort vehicle operators [47 O.S. § 14-120.1(C)] and shall not be used to carry other supplies, equipment, or cargo.
(3) The operator of the escort vehicle shall not perform as a tillerman while performing escort operations. For purposes of this paragraph, "tillerman" means a person who operates by remote control any axle of the escorted vehicle.

(e) Duties of escort vehicle operators.
(1) Traffic control. In the performance of duties as the operator of an escort vehicle, the operator is authorized to direct traffic to stop, slow down or proceed in situations where such direction is necessary to allow traffic or the escorted vehicle or load to continue moving safely.
(A) The operator of the escort vehicle shall require the escorted vehicle or load to stop, and the escorted vehicle shall move as far off of the roadway as practicable and stop to allow other traffic to pass, under the following conditions:
(i) When the escorted vehicle or load becomes disabled.
(ii) When the movement of the escorted vehicle or load on a particular section of roadway presents a safety risk or unreasonable risk to or unreasonably interferes with the efficient movement of other traffic, based upon such factors as the widths of the escorted vehicle or load, roadway, volume of traffic, limited visibility or mountainous terrain.
(iii) When driving conditions for the escorted vehicle or load are hazardous for any reason including weather.
(B) When the escorted vehicle or load stops, the escort vehicle operator may direct other traffic past the escorted vehicle or load as necessary until such time as the escorted vehicle or load can reenter the roadway and continue moving without presenting a safety risk or unreasonably interfering with efficient movement of other traffic.
(2) Escort vehicle operation.
(A) The operator of an escort vehicle must comply with all applicable traffic laws of this state and with the requirements of this Chapter when escorting a vehicle on all routes of the state highway system, including but not limited to the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System for Interstate and Defense Highways, all turnpikes, and such other roads, streets, or public ways that the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation shall deem appropriate.
(B) On two-lane highways, the first escort vehicle will travel far enough to the front and the second escort vehicle, if required, will travel far enough to the rear of the escorted vehicle or load to timely warn approaching motorists. On multi-lane highways, the first escort vehicle will travel far enough to the rear of the escorted vehicle or load to timely warn motorists approaching from the rear.

(f) Insurance.
(1) Each certified escort vehicle operator who operates in interstate commerce, and on and after August 1, 2014, each certified escort vehicle operator, shall maintain a valid insurance policy issued by an insurance company currently authorized to issue policies of insurance covering risks in the State of Oklahoma, and proof of insurance shall be carried in the escort vehicle at all times. The insurance policy shall protect the public against loss of life, bodily injury to persons, and damage to property, and shall provide not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined single limit coverage for bodily injury and/or property damage as a result of the operation of the escort vehicle, the escorted vehicle, or both causing the bodily injury and/or property damage.
(2) Until July 31, 2014, paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any operator who operates only in intrastate commerce or in interstate commerce into or through states which do not have escort vehicle certification requirements for the type of vehicle and/or load being escorted and who applies for and is granted restricted certification as provided for in OAC 595:30-3-17.1(c)(3); provided, the operator shall meet all minimum requirements for compulsory liability insurance in this state, and proof of insurance shall be carried in the escort vehicle at all times.
(3) On and after August 1, 2014, paragraph (1) of this subsection shall apply to all certified escort vehicles. operators.


[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2577, eff 6-26-92; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 4230, eff 8-20-98 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 3159, eff 7-12-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3125, eff 7-14-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2714, eff 7-15-02; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 3025, eff 7-25-04; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 2706, eff 7-25-05; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2780, eff 7-25-09]