Iowa Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Services

Heavy Haulers is a fully insured pilot car and escort vehicle company in Iowa. Let us accompany your oversized equipment or machinery.

(800) 908-6206

Premium Pilot Car Transport Services in Iowa

Heavy Haulers' pilot car and escort vehicle services can range in complexity, depending on the dimensions of your shipment. We've been escorting heavy, oversized loads through Iowa for more than a decade, and pilot car companies on our directory are professionals who are highly experienced and knowledgeable. We'll know what it takes to get your oversized load safely traveling along Iowa's busiest highways, whether traveling the I-29 on the western edge of the state or taking your shipment across the border. Our skilled pilot car transport drivers are available anytime, anywhere, and our pilot vehicle delivery services can be as comprehensive as you need.


We serve all major cities, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Dubuque, and more remote locations. Heavy Haulers escort cars in Iowa regularly accompany shipments between busy inland ports on the Mississippi and Des Moines rivers, helping to transport agricultural and machinery cargo to its final destination. You can rely on the Heavy Haulers pilot car company to assist with oversized load shipments and provide timely escort vehicle delivery. Whether you need one escort car or multiple, we'll source the appropriate pilot car transport services and expertise.


Heavy Haulers' pilot car transport experts provide escort vehicle services throughout Iowa and beyond. Whether you're looking to travel the busiest highways or need an escort car delivery service that can accompany your shipment to remote destinations, our pilot car services are here to help. Our pilot vehicle drivers are experienced, insured, and highly skilled escorts. Call now, and let’s get started!



Pilot Car Companies in Iowa

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Name States Served Phone Number
Heavy Equipment Transport CO (239) 677-4002
Nationwide Transport Services AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA (407) 574-4797
Wide Load Shipping MT, AL, LA, AZ, FL (239) 202-0846
E&E Pilot Car Services AL (205) 258-8059
JKA Express Pilot Car Service, LLC VA, MD, NC, DE, PA (804) 238-8216
RAMSEY PILOT CAR NV, CA, UT, WA, ID (850) 221-3029

Disclaimer: The Heavy Haulers Pilot Car Directory is a resource for connecting pilot car and escort vehicle service providers with potential clients. We are not affiliated with, nor do we endorse any of the companies listed in this directory. The information provided is for general informational purposes only, and all users are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before engaging with any of the service providers.

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Iowa's Pilot Car Regulations

Understanding escort vehicle requirements is essential for safe, legal travel through Hawkeye State if you want to ship oversized equipment or machinery through Iowa. Oversized deliveries in Iowa that require pilot vehicle transport may travel 24-7 if the load is not over 11' wide, 14'4" high, or 100' long. When you choose our pilot car shipping company, we'll ensure that all escort vehicle services are provided during appropriate travel times, and our representatives will happily discuss any Iowa-specific restrictions that you need to be aware of.


Our escort car service team will arrange for your pilot car services to include all necessary components, including suitable escort vehicle transport, applied for permits, and safety equipment. Sourcing pilot vehicles suitable for Iowa state travel and beyond can be daunting, given the often complex nature of oversized shipping. However, you can depend on Heavy Haulers' pilot car and escort vehicle delivery professionals to supply you with escort services that meet all legal requirements. Contact us for a quote, and we'll quickly get you started on your escort car delivery journey.

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Reliable Pilot Cars and Escort Vehicles Near Me In Iowa

Heavy Haulers provides pilot car and escort vehicle services everywhere in Iowa. We're ready to go to every town and city. We make sure to provide the best-oversized load pilot cars. All escort vehicles in Iowa are vetted to ensure they have the proper credentials for a safe, wide-load journey. Whether you're moving a load to or from Iowa, we always have "pilot cars near me" to get you where you need to go. Call now!

When Do I Need a Pilot Car or Escort Vehicle for Shipment in Iowa?


  • Length:
    • • For lengths ranging from 80 to 100 feet, revolving lights are necessary.
    • • Loads over 120 feet necessitate one rear pilot/escort vehicle.
    • • A 10-foot overhang requires flashing lights.

  • Width:
    • • On Primary Roads:

    • • Width over 12 feet requires one front pilot car escort vehicle.
    • • On two lanes, widths over 14 feet require one rear pilot car escort vehicle.
    • • On four lanes, widths over 14 feet 6 inches require one rear pilot car escort vehicle.
    • • On Interstates, widths over 16 feet 6 inches necessitate either one pilot car escort vehicle or appropriate lighting.
  • Weight:
    • • Vehicles exceeding 80,000 lbs. GVW must have amber lights.

Oversize/Overweight Load Flags/Banners/Signs/Lights Requirements for Iowa


"Oversized Load" Banner Regulations and Requirements

  • "Oversize Load" sign is mandatory for all oversize loads.
  • Size: Length - 7", height 18"
  • Letters: Black, 10" (min), 1.5" stroke
  • Background: Yellow.

Flag Requirements:

  • Flags are mandatory on the extremities of oversized vehicles, loads, and protruding objects.
  • "Oversize Load" signs are necessary for loads exceeding 10′ wide, 14′-6″ high, or 75′ long.
  • Oversize/overweight permit loads must have an operational oscillating, rotating, or flashing amber light on the tractor.
  • Light size not specified but must be visible from both sides and the front, with a daytime visibility of at least 500 feet.
  • For loads over 80′ long or combinations over 100′ long, a second light is required, mounted 10′ from the rear and as high as practical when the rear light is blocked.

Warning Lights: Color and Placement:

  • Flashing or strobe amber light must be mounted on the towing unit.
  • For continuous moves, safety lighting is needed at the extremities of the load, with lighted amber lights at the forward corners and lighted red lights at the rear.
  • Vehicles over 12' up to a width of 16' 6 may use an amber or strobe light on the cab of the power unit and the rear extremity of the vehicle or load.

Travel Time Restrictions for Overdimensional and Overweight Loads in Iowa

  • Permit loads up to 12′ wide, 13′-6″ high, and 200′ long are authorized for 24/7 travel, with one civilian escort during nighttime hours.
  • Permit loads up to 14′-6″ wide, up to 15′ high, and up to 200′ in length are now allowed to travel seven days a week, from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
  • Loads exceeding these dimensions can travel from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset Monday through Friday and from half an hour before sunrise until noon on Saturday.
  • Overweight loads only are permitted continuous travel if the permit indicates all other dimensions as legal.

Common Equipment that Requires
Escort Vehicles in Iowa

  • Aircraft Frames

  • Bridge Beams

  • Bulldozer Machines

  • Cranes

  • Construction Scraper

  • Excavators

  • Front End Loaders

  • Industrial Furnaces

  • Tugboats

  • Wheel Loaders

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Throughout the years, Heavy Haulers has proven its unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and client satisfaction through the multiple awards and affiliations we've earned. When you partner with Heavy Haulers, you partner with trusted leaders in the transport industry.

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