Tennessee Oversize Permits

Operating Time Tennessee:

Permitted travel is allowed during daylight hours only starting 30 minutes before sunrise and ending 30 minutes after sunset from Monday through Saturday. No travel is permitted on Sundays.  Overweight loads may travel continuously but only during permitted hours.

Restricted Travel Tennessee:

 Loads measuring 12 feet 6 inches or wider, or 85 feet or longer, are restricted from traveling within city boundaries or densely populated commercial or residential areas during rush hours. Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Travel is also prohibited during major holidays.

Seasonal Load Restrictions

• While many Canadian provinces and states enforce frost laws during certain months, Tennessee does not have strict seasonal load limits except for the following:
• From October 1st through April 15th, vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) under 9,000 pounds may use tires equipped with embedded wires or other traction-enhancing materials intended for icy or snowy surfaces. However, such traction devices must not exceed 0% contact with the road surface area, and within the first 1,000 miles of use, this contact must not surpass 20%.

Oversized Tire Regulations

All tires must be in good working condition, properly inflated, and show clearly visible tread depth that meets minimum legal standards. Chains or other protruding devices made of materials other than rubber are not allowed unless they are deemed necessary for safety.

Tennessee Escort Requirement

Length:

• Over 85 feet, 1 escort vehicle required
• Over 120 feet, 2 escort vehicles required
• Loads between 75 and 85 feet must use a rotating or strobe-type amber light

Width:

• On Interstates and 4-lane highways:
  Over 12 feet 6 inches, one escort vehicle is mandatory
  Over 14 feet, two escort vehicles are required

On 2-lane highways:

• Over 10 feet, 1 escort vehicle (unless the roadway has 24 feet of usable pavement excluding shoulders)
• Over 14 feet, two escort vehicles are required

Height:

• Loads exceeding 15 feet (with approval) must be accompanied by an escort equipped with a height pole.

Tennessee Banners, Lighting & Flage Requirement

Vehicles or loads over 10 feet wide or with an overall length over 75 feet must display “Oversize Load” signage on both the front and rear. If the load measures more than 75 feet in length but less than or equal to 85 feet, a rotating or strobe-type amber warning light must be attached to the rear. Red warning flags are required on the front and back of the load for overwidth conditions and at the widest points on both sides, whether at the top, bottom, or center. For overlength loads with rear overhang exceeding 4 feet, red flags must be displayed at the extreme end. Loads that are only overheight have no specific signage or flagging requirements. For overweight loads, signage requirements are typically still enforced by weigh station officers, although regulations do not clearly specify this.

Additional Information

Bulldozers or similar equipment with blades or extended sharp parts wider than 10 feet 6 inches must be transported with these attachments positioned to the rear of the hauling vehicle. Combination loads containing two different types of oversize dimensions such as one being overwidth and another being overheight are generally not allowed under a single permit. For example, a wide bulldozer and a tall backhoe cannot be transported together if both exceed legal limits in different categories.