Tennessee Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Tennessee without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on 2-lane roads and multi-lane roads, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Tennessee, shown as the app shows it.
Rules as of Jul 31, 2026 · Links checked Jul 13, 2026
Read this before you trust a number. Rules change. The issued permit, posted signs and the state permit office always win over this page. JaloPermit is a reading aid, not a permit-filing service. Guests get 3 free decodes a day with no account and no card, logged-in users get 10 a day, and extra decodes are $3.50 each with no subscription.
What moves in Tennessee without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Tennessee publishes its length limit as kingpin to rear, so compare it against that measurement on your permit, not the overall rig.
Where the permit and escort tiers start
| Dimension | Legal without permit | Permit tier starts | First escort on 2-lane roads | First escort on multi-lane roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 10'1" · Front escort | 12'7" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 15'1" · Front + High pole | 15'1" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 50'0"kingpin to rear | 75'1" | 90'1" · Rear escort | 90'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 165,001 lbs | No escort tier (permit only) | No escort tier (permit only) |
"Permit tier starts" is the lowest size in the Atlas ladder that needs a permit. "First escort" is the lowest size that adds a private or police escort on that road class; the full ladder with each tier's rule and source is below.
Tennessee escort ladder, tier by tier
Open a tier to read the rule behind it, quoted with its source. Amber tiers add a police escort or a superload review; grey tiers are permit-only with conditions.
On 2-lane roads
Escorts begin at 10'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 10'
Special permit required over 8'6". Rule 1680-07-01-.06(1): up to 10' wide, no escorts, special signs, lights or markings are required.
Front escort10'1" – 12'6"
CONDITIONAL: one escort precedes on two-lane routes where minimum pavement width excluding paved shoulders is under 24' (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(2)(b)); NO escort on two-lane routes with 24'+ pavement or on highways with 4+ lanes (Rule .06(2)(a)). Conservative unconditional count shown. Flagperson at bridges under 20'. TN's real split is interstate/4-lane vs two-lane — a 4-lane non-interstate highway follows the interstate row.
Front escort12'7" – 13'6"
One escort precedes the movement on two-lane highways (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(3)(b)); on 4+ lane non-interstate highways the escort FOLLOWS instead (Rule .06(3)(a) — see interstate row). Flagperson at bridges under 20'; escorted-load county rush-hour curfew applies on interstates.
Front + Rear13'7" – 16'
Front and rear escort vehicles required on ALL highways over 13'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(4)(a)); radio communication required; flagperson at bridges under 20'.
Front + Rear16'1" – 18'
Extra-overdimensional Super Load over 16' (Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): TDOT discretion; route survey required before issuance (Rule .06(5)(a)); front and rear escorts on all highways (Rule .06(5)(b)1); law-enforcement escort may additionally be required (Rule .12(4)).
Front + Rear + Police18'1"+
Over 18 ft wide: 2 civilian escorts (front and rear, Rule 1680-07-01-.06(5)(b)) plus at least 2 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers; THP escorts are in addition to the other required escorts, and THP sets its own placement. THP billed about $65/hr + $0.13/mi, 4-hour minimum; allow 10+ days. Route survey and Rule .12 superload discretion apply. Source: TDOT OS/OW Permit FAQs, 'When are Tennessee Highway Patrol Escorts required?'; Rule 1680-07-01-.06(5)(b).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'
Special permit required for height over 13'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.10(1)(a)); special routing may be required. At 15' or more a route survey of vertical clearance at each overpass is required (Rule .10(1)(c)). Rule .10 draws no road-class distinction.
Front + High pole15'1" – 15'6"
Over 15': front escort with height pole ('protrusions equal to, at a minimum, the height of the permitted vehicle and load') verifies all vertical clearances (Rule 1680-07-01-.10(1)(d)); route survey required (Rule .10(1)(c)). TDOT FAQ: pole set 6" above load height.
Front + High pole15'7" – 18'
Extra-overdimensional Super Load over 15'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): TDOT discretion (Rule .10(2)(a)); mandatory route survey (Rule .10(2)(b)1); front height-pole escort (Rule .10(2)(b)4); law-enforcement escort may additionally be required (Rule .12(4)).
Front + High pole + Police18'1"+
Over 18 ft high, on any highway: 1 front height-pole escort plus at least 2 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers; THP escorts are in addition to the other required escorts, and THP sets its own placement. Route survey mandatory; Rule .12 superload discretion; about $65/hr + $0.13/mi, 4-hour minimum. Source: TDOT OS/OW Permit FAQs, 'When are Tennessee Highway Patrol Escorts required?'; Rule 1680-07-01-.10(2)(b)4.
Length
Permit required75'1" – 90'
No escort vehicle required up to 90' (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(1)(a)). Over 75': signs front and rear plus rear rotating/strobe amber light visible 500', 360 degrees (Rule .11(1)(b)). Rule .11 draws no road-class distinction.
Rear escort90'1" – 120'
One escort vehicle shall immediately FOLLOW the movement, all highways (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(2)(a)).
Front + Rear120'1"+
Over 120': one escort immediately precedes and one immediately follows (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(3)(a)).
Weight
Permit required165,001 lbs+
Super heavy (gross weight exceeding 165,000 lbs, Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): TDOT sole discretion; route survey, traffic-control proposal, and TDOT Structures Division approval required (Rules .09(3), .12(1)-(3)). No escort is mandated by weight alone, but TDOT MAY require a law-enforcement escort based on complexity, in addition to dimension-based escorts (Rule .12(4)). Replaces the unsourced 200,001-lb/2-escort scrape tier.
On multi-lane roads
Escorts begin at 12'7" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 10'
Special permit required over 8'6". Rule 1680-07-01-.06(1): up to 10' wide, no escorts, special signs, lights or markings are required.
Permit required10'1" – 12'6"
No escort on the interstate system or highways with four or more lanes (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(2)(a)). Over 10' the load must be signed and marked front and rear (Rule .20); flagperson required at bridge structures with roadway width under 20'.
Rear escort12'7" – 13'6"
One escort vehicle follows the movement on the interstate system or highways with four or more lanes (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(3)(a)). Flagperson at bridges under 20'. Escorted loads: no interstate movement 7-9 AM / 4-6 PM weekdays in Davidson, Rutherford, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby counties.
Front + Rear13'7" – 16'
Front and rear escort vehicles required on ALL highways over 13'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.06(4)(a)); towing vehicle and escorts must be in radio communication at all times; flagperson at bridges under 20'.
Front + Rear16'1" – 18'
Extra-overdimensional Super Load over 16' (Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): permitted only at TDOT's discretion; a route survey is required BEFORE permit issuance (Rule .06(5)(a)); front and rear escorts on all highways (Rule .06(5)(b)1); TDOT may additionally require a law-enforcement escort at permittee's cost (Rule .12(4)).
Front + Rear + Police18'1"+
Over 18 ft wide: 2 civilian escorts (front and rear, Rule 1680-07-01-.06(5)(b)) plus at least 2 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers; THP escorts are in addition to the other required escorts, and THP sets its own placement. THP billed about $65/hr + $0.13/mi, 4-hour minimum; allow 10+ days. Route survey and Rule .12 superload discretion apply. Source: TDOT OS/OW Permit FAQs, 'When are Tennessee Highway Patrol Escorts required?'; Rule 1680-07-01-.06(5)(b).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 15'
Special permit required for height over 13'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.10(1)(a)); special routing may be required. At exactly 15' ('fifteen feet (15') or more') a route survey identifying the vertical clearance at each overpass is required before the application is processed (Rule .10(1)(c)). Rule .10 draws no road-class distinction.
Front + High pole15'1" – 15'6"
Over 15': front escort vehicle with height pole — 'protrusions equal to, at a minimum, the height of the permitted vehicle and load' — must verify all vertical clearances (Rule 1680-07-01-.10(1)(d)); route survey of every overpass required (Rule .10(1)(c)). TDOT FAQ: set the pole 6" above load height.
Front + High pole15'7" – 18'
Extra-overdimensional Super Load over 15'6" (Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): permitted only at TDOT discretion (Rule .10(2)(a)); mandatory route survey of every overpass (Rule .10(2)(b)1); front height-pole escort (Rule .10(2)(b)4); law-enforcement escort may additionally be required (Rule .12(4)).
Front + High pole + Police18'1"+
Over 18 ft high, on any highway: 1 front height-pole escort plus at least 2 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers; THP escorts are in addition to the other required escorts, and THP sets its own placement. Route survey mandatory; Rule .12 superload discretion; about $65/hr + $0.13/mi, 4-hour minimum. Source: TDOT OS/OW Permit FAQs, 'When are Tennessee Highway Patrol Escorts required?'; Rule 1680-07-01-.10(2)(b)4.
Length
Permit required75'1" – 90'
No escort vehicle required up to 90' (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(1)(a)). Over 75': OVERSIZE LOAD signs front and rear, and the rear sign fitted with a rotating or strobe amber light visible from at least 500 feet through 360 degrees (Rule .11(1)(b)). Rule .11 draws no road-class distinction. TN's permit threshold for length depends on vehicle configuration and may be below 75'.
Rear escort90'1" – 120'
One escort vehicle shall immediately FOLLOW the movement, all highways (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(2)(a)). Escorted loads and loads over 90' long: no interstate movement 7-9 AM / 4-6 PM weekdays in Davidson, Rutherford, Hamilton, Knox and Shelby counties.
Front + Rear120'1"+
Over 120': one escort immediately precedes and one immediately follows the movement, all highways (Rule 1680-07-01-.11(3)(a)).
Weight
Permit required165,001 lbs+
Super heavy (gross weight exceeding 165,000 lbs, Rule 1680-07-01-.12(1)): permit issued only at TDOT's sole discretion, with route survey, detailed traffic-control proposal, and TDOT Structures Division approval (Rules .09(3), .12(1)-(3)). No TN rule mandates an escort by weight alone — escort mandates key on width/height/length (Rules .06/.10/.11) — but TDOT MAY require a law-enforcement escort for super heavy loads based on complexity, at permittee's cost, in addition to any dimension-based escorts (Rule .12(4); TDOT FAQ lists 'complexity of load or route' as a THP trigger). Replaces the unsourced 200,001-lb/2-escort scrape tier; threshold corrected to TN's real 165,000-lb superload line.
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Continuous movement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Rule 1680-07-01-.04). Superloads, houseboats, mobile homes and site-built houses are daylight only. The conditions printed on your permit control.
- Night travel
Permitted — 24/7 is the default (Rule 1680-07-01-.04). Daylight only for superloads (over 165,000 lbs, 16' wide or 15'6" high), mobile homes, houseboats and site-built houses. Over-width or over-length night moves need extra red marker lamps, lamps and reflectors at the rear.
- Weekend travel
Permitted seven days a week, including Sunday, unless the permit states otherwise.
- Holiday restrictions
Rule 1680-07-01-.04 sets windows around Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year, but TDOT's published schedule restricts escorted loads only — unescorted loads keep continuous travel.
- Urban restrictions
No movement over 12'6" wide, 15' high or 90' long on interstates 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM Monday-Friday in counties over 250,000 population (now Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, Shelby, Hamilton). TDOT applies the curfew to escorted loads generally.
Signage Tennessee expects
- Oversize load sign
Required over 10' wide or 75' long. Front and rear signs at least 7' long and 18" high, black on yellow, letters at least 10" high with a 1.5" stroke (Rule 1680-07-01-.20).
- Flags
Red or fluorescent orange, at least 18" square. Overwidth loads carry flags front and rear at the top and bottom of the widest side; overlength loads at the extreme rear.
- Beacons
Loads over 75' long: the rear sign carries a rotating or strobe amber light visible 500 feet and from all 360 degrees. Every escort vehicle carries one.
Tennessee permit office
The permit office is the authority on every number on this page. Call it, or open the official site, before you rely on a threshold for a load that is close to a line.
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What are the legal limits in Tennessee without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Tennessee, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 50'0" long (kingpin to rear) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 4'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Tennessee permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Tennessee?
On 2-lane roads in Tennessee, escorts begin at 10'1" wide. On multi-lane roads, escorts begin at 12'7" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 10'1" – 12'6" wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Tennessee?
Night travel: Permitted — 24/7 is the default (Rule 1680-07-01-.04). Daylight only for superloads (over 165,000 lbs, 16' wide or 15'6" high), mobile homes, houseboats and site-built houses. Over-width or over-length night moves need extra red marker lamps, lamps and reflectors at the rear. Weekend travel: Permitted seven days a week, including Sunday, unless the permit states otherwise. Holidays: Rule 1680-07-01-.04 sets windows around Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year, but TDOT's published schedule restricts escorted loads only — unescorted loads keep continuous travel.