In the United States, fourteen states require Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators (PEVOs) to be certified. Each of these states has slightly different rules, but the Washington PEVO certification is accepted in most of them.
Which states require PEVO certification?
The following states all require PEVOs to have some form of certification (exact requirements differ between states – see the section below for details): Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
The USDOT maintains a list of which states accept which certifications, plus links to individual state PEVO information.
What states accept Washington’s PEVO certification?
This table outlines which other states accept Washington’s PEVO certification, and vice versa.
However, note that if you are a resident of one of the states listed here, you will likely be required to carry that state’s certification while operating there. You should check your state’s rules for details.
Also note that certifications are not transferable between states: you may not exchange one state certification for a different state certification. But you may earn and carry more than one.
| State | Accepts WA PEVO certification | WA accepts their certification | Additional details |
| Arizona | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Colorado | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Florida | ✅ | 🚫 | Operators must also complete a specific defensive driving course. |
| Georgia | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Kansas | ✅ | Does not have its own full certification program. | Kansas driver license holders may operate with Washington certification. All PEVOs must also register on KDOT’s website to obtain an additional Kansas permit. |
| Minnesota | ✅ | ✅ | |
| New York | 🚫 | 🚫 | Does not accept certifications from any other state. |
| North Carolina | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Oklahoma | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Pennsylvania | ✅ | 🚫 | Certification only required on Superloads. Must also complete a defensive driving course and flagger course. |
| Texas | ✅ | Does not have its own full certification program. | Only requires a flagger certification, but the WA PEVO certification counts. |
| Utah | ✅ | ✅ | Requires additional permit for the pilot/escort vehicle. |
| Virginia | ✅ | ✅ |
Depending on which state you live in, it may be smart to carry a PEVO certification that will be recognized more widely. Many operators have both a Washington certification and one from their own state of residence.
What else should you consider?
In addition to certification, it’s important to make sure you have the right insurance, equipment, and training in order to pilot safely. Check out our PEVO info page for more details.
The number of states requiring PEVO certification changes every year, as do agreements between states. Make sure you always double-check the rules in the states where you operate.
