Purple lights and a Class 1 pilot
- At least one Class 1 and two Class 2 pilot vehicles.
- Each of the required pilot vehicles: two amber beacons on the right and two PURPLE on the left by day. At night one amber on the right and two PURPLE on the left.
- The pilot furthest ahead also shows one pair of alternately flashing PURPLE lamps.
- Under a permit, the operator must tell the Director (NZTA) at least 30 minutes before the journey starts.
More detail
- Beacons go on the roof. If the rear beacons would not be clearly visible to following traffic, fit them to the rear of the pilot vehicle or its trailer.
- The front pilot may run one pair of alternately flashing low-beam headlamps by day.
- At night one or two white lamps light each pilot’s roof sign, and two or more white scene lamps light the front of the load (6.46(8), 6.19(5)).
- Signs (Table 7.2): DANGER SLOW DOWN on the first pilot. Second pilot: WIDE LOAD FOLLOWS or HOUSE FOLLOWS, as appropriate. Rear pilot: WIDE LOAD AHEAD or HOUSE AHEAD, as appropriate.
- Category 4 applications need a statement that the route has been assessed, and Category 4B needs an engineering assessment (6.51).
Where this comes from: Rule 6.46(4) to (8), 6.51, 6.54(2); Schedule 7 Table 7.2
Travelling at night
- Load lamps and side marker lamps on (Rule 6.19(2), (3)). These are optional on a standard vehicle carrying a load within the Schedule 2 length limits and up to 2.7 m wide (6.19(7)).
- Amber beacon on at night (6.19(4)), unless 6.19(7) applies. It is on at all times over 3.7 m wide or with a pilot.
- Over 5 m wide: two or more white scene lamps (6.19(5)). Pilots: one or two white lamps light the roof sign (6.46(8)).
- Category 1: flags become reflective panels (Rule 6.14(2)). Categories 2 to 4 use panels.
- Category 1 over 3.1 m wide: a Class 2 pilot at any speed. Category 3 and 4: the same pilots as by day. Category 2: a Class 1 and a Class 2 pilot, unless the vehicle has a verified Category 1 swept path (6.34(4)).
More detail
- Night is half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, or any time you can’t see a person or vehicle at 100 m.
Where this comes from: Rule 6.14, 6.19, 6.34, 6.46(8)
Signs
OVERSIZE sign
Front and rear of the vehicle, mounted so approaching drivers can see it clearly (6.18(2)(b)).
Category 1 by day: over 3.1 m wide and piloted. Category 1 at night: over 3.1 m wide. Category 2: over 3.1 m wide. Categories 3 and 4: Schedule 6 lists the sign with no width condition. The Rule says a vehicle must not display it unless Schedule 6 requires it (6.18(3)). If your Category 3 or 4 load is 3.1 m wide or less, ask NZTA about the OVERSIZE sign.
Rule 6.18; Schedule 6 Part 1; Schedule 7 Part 2, Figure 7.5
Hazard warning flag
Excess width: on each side at the front and rear. Excess front overhang: at the front. Excess rear overhang or excess length: at the rear.
Category 1 by day, at excess projections (panels may be used instead of flags: Schedule 6 says flags or panels). At night a Category 1 vehicle shows hazard warning panels instead (6.14(2)). A mobile crane may paint its boom head instead of a front flag (6.17(1)).
Rule 6.14(1), (2); Schedule 6 Part 1
Hazard warning panel (Figures 7.1 and 7.2)
Excess width: on each side at the front and rear, as close as practicable to the outside extremity (Figure 7.4). Excess front overhang: at the front. Excess rear overhang or excess length: at the rear.
Category 1 at night. Categories 2, 3 and 4, at excess projections. Alternatives in 6.16 and 6.17 may apply instead. Category 1 by day may use panels instead of flags, because Schedule 6 says flags or panels.
Rule 6.15(1), (2); Schedule 7 Part 1, Figures 7.1, 7.2 and 7.4
Narrow hazard warning panel (Figure 7.3)
Same positions as the standard panel (6.15(1)(a)).
The Rule says Figure 7.3 may be used if the vehicle design, the load or the panel size makes Figure 7.1 or 7.2 impractical, or if it gives a more effective warning (6.15(2)(c)).
Rule 6.15(2)(c); Schedule 7 Part 1, Figure 7.3
Alternatives to flags and panels
Crane boom head, agricultural vehicle parts, agricultural tractor, or a Director-approved panel.
Mobile crane: the boom head may be painted instead of a front flag or panel (6.17(1), (2)). Agricultural motor vehicle: parts beyond the maximum front overhang may be painted with high visibility paint instead of a front panel (6.17(3)). Agricultural tractor over 2.55 m and up to 3.1 m wide: an amber beacon may be used instead of a panel (6.17(4)). The Director may approve other panels (6.16).
Rule 6.15(3), 6.16, 6.17
WIDE LOAD FOLLOWS / WIDE LOAD AHEAD
Pilot vehicles. A front pilot shows its sign above the roof (6.42(3)). A rear pilot shows its sign facing the rear (6.43(3)).
Load over 3.1 m and up to and including 5 m wide. First pilot (front): WIDE LOAD FOLLOWS. Second pilot (if required): WIDE LOAD FOLLOWS. Rear pilot (if required): WIDE LOAD AHEAD.
Schedule 7 Part 3, Tables 7.1 and 7.2; Rule 6.42(3), 6.43(3), 6.44(1)
DANGER SLOW DOWN
First pilot vehicle.
Load over 5 m wide. Second pilot (if required): WIDE LOAD FOLLOWS or HOUSE FOLLOWS, as appropriate. Rear pilot (if required): WIDE LOAD AHEAD or HOUSE AHEAD, as appropriate.
Schedule 7 Part 3, Tables 7.1 and 7.2
HOUSE FOLLOWS / HOUSE AHEAD
Pilot vehicles, in place of the WIDE LOAD signs.
Load over 5 m wide, as appropriate. Second pilot: HOUSE FOLLOWS. Rear pilot: HOUSE AHEAD. Table 7.2 lists these only in the over 5 m column.
Schedule 7 Part 3, Tables 7.1 and 7.2
LONG LOAD FOLLOWS / LONG LOAD AHEAD
Pilot vehicles.
Load under 3.1 m wide that needs a pilot because of excess rear overhang, or because it is over 25 m overall length. First and second pilot: LONG LOAD FOLLOWS. Rear pilot (if required): LONG LOAD AHEAD. Table 7.2 names loads over 3.1 m wide and loads under 3.1 m wide. For a load exactly 3.1 m wide, or a narrow load piloted for another reason (such as front overhang or forward distance), the front pilot still shows a Schedule 7 warning sign above its roof and a rear pilot shows one facing the rear (6.42(3), 6.43(3)): ask NZTA about the wording.
Schedule 7 Part 3, Tables 7.1 and 7.2
PILOT VEHICLE (reverse face)
The reverse side of every pilot sign above.
Table 7.1 says this face is to be displayed on the reverse side of all the other pilot signs.
Schedule 7 Part 3, Table 7.1 and Figure 7.6
Pilot sign position and variable message signs
Front pilot: above its roof. Rear pilot or its trailer: facing the rear, describing the load ahead.
The Rule says a pilot warning sign may be displayed only while the pilot vehicle is piloting an overdimension vehicle (6.44(2)). The Director may approve a variable message sign instead of the printed sign (6.45(1)).
Rule 6.42(3), 6.43(3), 6.44, 6.45
Class 1 pilot vehicle: colour and logo
The exterior of every Class 1 pilot vehicle.
Every Class 1 pilot vehicle must clearly display an approved pilot logo, device or marking (6.44(3)). A Class 2 pilot vehicle may display one (6.44(4)).
Rule 6.41(2), 6.41(5), 6.44(3), 6.44(4), 6.45(4)
General information only. Not legal advice and not a permit. The Rule, your permit conditions, NZTA and road signs come first. Rules change, so check the current Rule before every move. Checked 9 Oct 2026 against the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016, as at 6 Aug 2026. If you are unsure, ring NZTA’s permitting team on 0800 683 774.