Oversize / Overweight Permits in Tennessee

Tennessee Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to Tennessee law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversize/overweight load:

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8′ 6″(from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Height: 13′ 6″(from the roadbed to the highest point of the load or vehicle, whichever is higher)
Length of a semi-trailer: 50′ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Length of a straight truck: 45′
Length of a truck with a trailer: 65′
Front overhang: 5′
Rear overhang: 5′

Legal Weight Limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load)
Single axle: 20,000 lb.
Tandem axle: 34,000 lb.

Tennessee Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A general single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversize and overweight loads exceeding the legal limits. It covers one movement from point A to point B during the running times specified in the permit. The permit is valid for 10 days (6 days for manufactured homes).

For more details:

https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/tdot/central-services/oversize—overweight-permits.html

Tennessee Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

To obtain an annual vehicle-specific permit, a load must meet the following requirements:

maximum width – 14’11”
maximum height – 13′ 11”
maximum GVW: 120,000 lb. (150,000 lb. issued by the Commissioner of transportation)

Note: The cost varies from $500 (up to 120,000 lb.) to $1000 (up to 150,000 lb.)

Types of annual permits:

Over dimensional
Overweight (these permits can also be over dimensional)
Cotton seed module
Mobile homes (14′-16′ wide)
Non-commercial boat
Ocean going container
Roof trusses
Tow truck

Tennessee Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities of oversized loads that extend more than 4′ beyond the sides or rear must be marked with red or fluorescent orange 18″ square flags.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

Tennessee requires trailers and vehicles hauling oversized loads to be equipped with “oversize load” banners if they exceed 10′ in width or 75′ in length.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

All signs must be at least 7′ long and 18″ high and feature 10″ tall black letters on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

All permitted vehicles must drive with:

1 red side marker lamp to indicate the maximum overhang
2 red lamps visible from the rear
2 red rear reflectors to indicate the maximum width

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

One escort vehicle:

10′ 6″ – 12′ wide on 2-lane roads – front
10′ 6″ – 14′ wide on 4-lane roads – rear
15’1″ high and greater – front with a height pole (excluding weekends)
75′ 1″ – 90′ long – front and lights on the rear (excluding weekends)
10′ or greater front overhang – front (excluding weekends)
10′ or greater rear overhang – rear (excluding weekends)

Two escort vehicles:

12′ 1″ – 14′ wide on 2-lane roads
14′ 1″ – 15′ wide (excluding weekends)
15′ 1″ wide and wider- 2 escorts or more if required (wider 16′) (excluding weekends)
90′ 1″ – 120′ long and greater (excluding weekends)

Tennessee Wide Load Restrictions

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Unless otherwise mentioned in Tennessee wide load permits, oversize loads are not allowed to be moved on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, as well as on Sundays from sunset to sunrise.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Oversized loads, excluding houseboats, mobile homes, site-built homes, commercial boats, and other super loads, are allowed to transport 24/7.

Vehicles wider than 12’6″, taller than 15′, or longer than 90′ are not allowed to move on the interstate highway system during the time slots of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

Tennessee adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that provides specific bridge restrictions. As for the oversize road restrictions, they include but are not limited to the following:

driving through work zones that are under construction
neglecting warning signals when driving through work zones
not giving traffic priority to law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc

Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:

While the Frost Law is applied in many states and provinces of Canada, no specific seasonal restrictions except for the following are provided by the state of Tennessee.

From October 1 to April 15, individuals driving vehicles with the GVW less than 9,000 lbs are permitted to utilize tires with embedded wire or other substances designed to enhance traction on snowy or icy surfaces (the percentage of wire or other material in contact with the road surface must not surpass 5% of the total tire area in contact with the road after 1,000 miles of usage and 20% within first 1,000 miles).

Tennessee Wide Load Limits

Tennessee sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″. Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.

Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:

8′ 6″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)

Axle Weight Limits:

Legal axle weight limit:

Maximum gross weight: 80,000 lb. (not more than 20,000 lb. per single axle)
Single axle: 20,000 lb.
Tandem axle: 34,000 lb

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

single axle – 23,000 lbs (20,000 lbs if wider than 10′)
tandem axle – 46,000 lbs (40,000 lbs if wider than 10′)

Note: Vehicles with GVW exceeding 165,000 lbs require the approval of the Structures Division before getting a permit.

Oversize Tire Regulations:

Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum allowed tread depth .

Tires must not feature chains or protuberances of any material other than rubber unless their use is required for safety.

Tennessee Trip Permits

The state of Tennessee issues a 72-hour IRP permit for $30. The permit is necessary for all oversize/overweight vehicles with registration in another jurisdiction. There can also be a fee for handling and processing your permit.

Tennessee Fuel Permits

IFTA permits are necessary for all interstate motor carriers driving in or through Tennessee. The permit is vehicle-specific and valid for seven consecutive days. The cost is $30 plus a handling fee.

Tennessee Specialty Permits

The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.

Manufactured Houses and Mobile Homes:

Tennessee issues two types of manufactured house and mobile home permits, including a single-trip and annual one.

Single-trip permits:

width less than 14′ – $50
width less than 16′ – $100
height over 14′ 2″ – $50
overlength – $25

Annual permits:

width less than 14′ – $1000
width less than 16′ – $2000

For more information about specialty permits:

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/central-services/oversize—overweight-permits/resources.html

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Tennessee

Oversize and overweight fines in Tennessee start at $25+$.03 per pound of unpermitted weight for the first offense to $$25 + $.05 per pound for the reminder. Their size depends on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight and the number of violations since the first one within the year.

Note: Additionally, there may be an associated fee for court proceedings, which typically falls within the range of $40 to $90.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Tennessee

The cost of Tennessee OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, its nature, and its excessive weight and size. It starts at $20 for a single-trip permit and can reach $2000 for an annual permit.

You may also be charged an application fee for processing your permit request.

For more details:

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/central-services/oversize—overweight-permits/single-trip—annual.html

Trucking Permit Service

Express Permits provides a full spectrum of trucking permit services, assisting motor carriers in obtaining the appropriate oversize and overweight permits, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, saving valuable time, effort, and potential penalties. You can rely on us regardless of your load’s type, nature, and destination.