Tennessee

Width

8'6"

Height

13'6"

Truck-semi-trailer length

50'

Legal overhang — front and rear

5' each

Single axle

20,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,000 lb.

Max gross weight

80,000 lb.

Phone

615-741-3821

Hours

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Central

Website

tn.gov/tdot

Single axle

20,000 lb.

Tandem axle

34,000 lb.

Gross vehicle weight

80,000 lb.

General special-permit maximums are 20,000 lbs single axle and 40,000 lbs tandem (no single axle in a tandem group may exceed 20,000 lbs). For a non-divisible load with a width of 10' or less (properly permitted beyond 10'), a special permit may allow single axle up to 23,000 lbs, a tandem group up to 46,000 lbs, and a tridem (3-axle) group up to 60,000 lbs. Movements exceeding 165,000 lbs gross require TDOT Structures Division approval; "superloads" — gross weight over 165,000 lbs, width over 16 feet, or height over 15'6" — may be permitted if the highway can accommodate the move and it can be completed safely.

A 72-hour IRP Trip Permit is required before entering the state for vehicles not IRP-apportioned, allowing interstate or intrastate movement. A 7-Day Temporary Fuel Use Permit is available for occasional or infrequent Tennessee travel (vehicle specific, not exceeding 7 consecutive days), satisfying motor fuels use tax obligations trip-by-trip in lieu of IFTA licensing. Cost: $30 per permit plus wire service fees.

Operating an overweight, un-permitted vehicle is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment or a fine of up to $50. It is illegal to move an overloaded vehicle until it is reduced to legal compliance or a special permit is obtained. General weight-restriction or safety-rule violations are a Class C misdemeanor carrying a $25 fine, plus court costs of $40–$90 or more.

No movement is permitted from sunset to sunrise, anytime on Sunday, or on New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. Permits otherwise allow 24/7 movement unless the load is classified as a houseboat, mobile home, site-built home, commercial boat, or superload. Permits do not allow movement of vehicles exceeding 12'6" wide, 15' high, or 90' long on the interstate highway system between 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM, Monday through Friday, in counties with a population over 250,000.

A truck-tractor and semitrailer combination carrying a special-permit load in excess of width/length limits may move between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise only if each side of the projecting load carries a red side marker lamp indicating maximum overhang, plus two red lamps and two red reflectors on the rear (one each side) indicating maximum width. Movement exceeding 10' wide and/or 75' long requires "OVERSIZE LOAD" information signs at least 7 feet long by 18 inches high, yellow background with black lettering at least 10 inches high and a 1.5-inch stroke, durable construction, clean and readable. Loads extending more than 4 inches beyond the sides, or more than 4 feet beyond the rear, require a red or fluorescent orange flag at least 18 inches square at each point requiring a lamp.

No protuberance other than rubber may project beyond the tread, except tires embedded with wire or other traction-improving material for snow and ice, permitted October 1 through April 15 (limited to 5% of total road-contact area after the first 1,000 miles of use, 20% during the first 1,000 miles) — such tires are prohibited on vehicles over 9,000 lbs GVW unless a school bus or emergency vehicle. Tire chains are permitted for safety in snow, ice, or similar conditions.

TDOT is authorized to permit non-divisible loads exceeding state weight limits up to 120,000 lbs; movements exceeding 150,000 lbs require a special permit from the Commissioner of Transportation. A permit is required if any of these are exceeded: width 8'6", height 13'6", length 50' (truck-tractor plus semi-trailer combination), overhang 5 feet total (front plus rear), or weight 20,000 lbs single axle / 34,000 lbs tandem / 80,000+ lbs GVW.

Width

14'11"

Height

13'11"

Cost — annual, up to 120,000 lbs GVW

$500.00

Cost — annual, over 120,000 up to 150,000 lbs GVW

$1,000.00

Turnaround

1 business day, online

Commodity specific

Truck specific — each truck requires its own permit

Traffic volumes are high, so stay alert always. Slow down and follow posted work zone limits, pay attention (workers and equipment may only be a few feet from passing vehicles), don't tailgate, minimize distractions like cell phones, obey road crew flaggers, expect the unexpected, and plan ahead by leaving a few minutes early.

Single Trip Permit — width up to 14'

$50.00

Single Trip Permit — width up to 16'

$100.00

Single Trip Permit — height over 14'2"

$50.00

Single Trip Permit — length

$25.00

Single trip validity

6 days

Annual Permit — 14' wide

$1,000.00

Annual Permit — 16' wide

$2,000.00