Essential Guide to Tennessee Oversize Permits

Navigating Tennessee oversize permits is essential for transporting oversize or overweight loads through the state. Understanding Tennessee’s oversize regulations, including provisions for Tennessee oversize overweight permits, ensures compliance and smooth operations. This guide covers everything from legal dimensions to escort requirements for Tennessee oversize loads.

Tennessee DOT information

Tennessee Oversize Permits Duration

Tennessee oversize permits are valid for six days and must be obtained before entering the state. This ensures compliance with Tennessee oversize regulations and helps avoid any potential fines or delays.

Operating hours for tennessee oversize loads

Travel under Tennessee oversize permits is restricted to daylight hours, specifically from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, Monday through Saturday. No travel is allowed on Sundays. However, vehicles that are overweight under Tennessee oversize overweight permits are allowed continuous movement without the daylight restriction.

Restricted Travel

Tennessee imposes restrictions on movements exceeding 12’6″ in width or 85′ in length within city limits and heavily trafficked commercial or residential areas. These movements are prohibited during peak traffic hours from 7:00-9:00 AM and 4:00-6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Additionally, no travel is allowed on major holidays.

Legal Dimensions of tennessee oversize permits

The following are legal dimensional limits for Tennessee oversize overweight permits. Tennessee over dimensional Permits are required if exceeding these dimensions.

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Routine Limits of Tennessee oversize overweight permits

These are the maximum dimensional limits allowed to be permitted at Tennessee. Exceeding these dimensions can classify the load as a super load. Depending on the load weight and dimensions require additional processing time and review.

Super Loads In Tennessee

Loads that surpass the routine permit limits are classified as Super Loads under Tennessee oversize permits. Movements exceeding 16′ in width or 15′ in height are generally denied unless it can be demonstrated that the transport serves public welfare, safety, or national defense interests. Movements over 16′ in height are rarely allowed, and obtaining a permit may require a letter of necessity justifying the load’s passage through Tennessee.

pilot car Conditions for Tennessee Oversize Permits

Miscellaneous Provisions for Tennessee Oversize Permits

For loads like bulldozer blades or other protruding sharp objects that exceed 10’6” in width, they must be positioned at the rear of the hauling equipment. Tennessee oversize regulations do not allow permits for blades or sharp objects that cause a width greater than 13’6″. Additionally, combination loads with different over dimensions, such as an over width dozer and an over height backhoe, cannot be permitted together.

Signs, Flags & 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. 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. For over height-only loads, there are no light requirements.

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.

Obtaining a permit

For non-divisible loads exceeding Tennessee’s weight limit of 120,000 pounds, the Tennessee Department of Transportation can issue special permits for transportation. If your load exceeds 150,000 pounds, you’ll need a specific permit from the Commissioner of Transportation. This permit is necessary for any load that is over height, overlength, over width, or overweight under Tennessee oversize provisions.