Summary:

• In Tennessee, loads that do not require escorts are allowed continuous travel.
• Typically, escorted loads must abide by rush hour restrictions in Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, SHelby, and Hamilton Counties.
• Overwidth and overlength loads require specific placement of red flags.

Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions

In Tennessee, Loads which do not require escorts are allowed continuous travel. Escorted loads must abide by the county curfews during rush hour restrictions, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the following counties:

• Davidson County – Nashville Area
• Rutherford County – Murfreesboro Area
• Knox County – Knoxville Area
• Shelby County – Memphis Area
• Hamilton County – Chattanooga Area

Holiday restrictions also apply to escorted loads and can be found here.

Movements for Superloads, Houseboats, and Mobile Homes are restricted to daylight hours only. Additionally, Site Built House movements are restricted to daylight hours only unless nighttime movement has been stipulated by local authorities.

Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements

Signs, flags, and lights may be required when moving oversize loads or superloads for the safety of others on the road.

Signs

All movements exceeding 10 feet in width or 75 feet in length will require an Oversize Load sign in the front and the rear. Banners must be at least:

• Seven feet long;
• EIghteen inches high;
• Yellow background with black lettering;
• Letters must be at least 10 inches high with 1- inch stroke;
• Signs must be in good shape, clean, and readable.

Even for being overweight, you would require the Oversize Load signs per the requirement set by a scale office; however, the rules and regulations can vary.

Flags

For overwidth loads front and rear, red flags are required. The flag must also be placed on the top and bottom of each widest side of the loads. The banners also need to be placed at the end of overlength loads or when a 4 feet rear overhang is present. See the diagrams here. Lights

If the length of the loads exceeds over 75 feet and not more than 85 feet, the end of the load needs to have a strobe or rotating type amber light. For overheight-only loads, there are no light requirements.

Obtaining a Permit

For non-divisible loads above the State’s weight limit of 120,000 pounds, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is authorized to issue permits for transportation. As for 150,000 pounds, you will need a special permit from the Commissioner of Transportation. The permit is required for loads that are overheight, overlength, overwidth, or overweight.

To apply for oversized permits in Tennessee, you can visit the Tennessee Department of Transportation website. Customers may choose to use a third-party permit agency to obtain an oversize and/or over dimensional permit.

 Partnering with a Logistics Company

Transporting oversize and overweight loads through Tennessee requires strict adherence to state regulations and permit requirements. By understanding the operating hours, restricted travel times, signage, and permit application process, you can ensure safe and legal transport. If you are interested in streamlining the oversize permit process in Tennessee, consider partnering with a modular logistics company like Stream. Contact our experts to ensure a seamless wide and heavy haul experience for your project. 

Read more:

• Over-Dimensional and Heavy Haul Permitting 101
• What You Need to Know About State Oversize Permits for Over-Dimensional, Wide, and Heavy Haul Trucking
• State Oversize Permit & Wide Load Regulations: Simplified

ariesfs is a transportation logistics company specializing exclusively in High Stakes Freight® , or freight where there is significant risk in moving your product. We help you transport freight when there are projects with timelines and delivery sequences, shipments with high complexity, and shipments with unique constraints.