TN
Tennessee oversize permit rules
What Tennessee charges for a single-trip OS/OW permit, the limits that trigger one, and the escort thresholds — read from the state’s own publication. This rule has been in effect since 2018-05-15.
Oversize permit
$20–$70 + per foot
Each over-legal dimension is priced from its own table, and the fee is the total. Being over on one dimension costs less than being over on several.
Overweight permit
From $20
Scales with distance and weight — there is no single figure.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in Tennessee and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate |
|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" |
| Height | 13'6" |
| Length | 75'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
Tennessee prices a single-trip permit as per dimension. Each over-legal dimension is priced from its own table, and the fee is the total. Being over on one dimension costs less than being over on several.
| Band | State fee |
|---|---|
| Width up to 14'0" | $20 |
| Width up to 16'0" | $30 |
| Width over 16'0" | $30 |
| Width — each foot over 16'0" | +$5 |
| Height | $20 |
| Length | $20 |
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
4+ lane / divided (interstate, toll)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'6" | 1 rear escortOver 12'6" to 13'6": one escort FOLLOWS on interstate/4+-lane; one escort PRECEDES on two-lane (Rule .06(3) verbatim); flagperson at <20' bridges. |
| Over 13'6" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 13'6" to 16': front AND rear escorts on ALL highways + two-way radio contact at all times (Rule .06(4) verbatim); flagperson at <20' bridges. |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route survey · superloadOver 16' wide = EXTRA-OVERDIMENSIONAL (Rule .12): 'A route survey shall be required prior to the issuance of a permit' (carrier-performed, with a traffic-control proposal); if permitted: front + rear escorts on all highways + radio; ≥10 business days lead; THP escort discretionary at cost ($65/hr + 13¢/mi, min 2 officers). The old '>17'1" = 2 front + 1 rear' tier was the HOUSEBOAT rule (.16(6)) — deleted from the general grid. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 15'0" and over | 1 front escort · height poleOver 15' high: the permittee determines all vertical clearances 'by use of a front escort vehicle having protrusions equal to, at a minimum, the height of the permitted vehicle and load' (Rule .10(1)(d) verbatim) — the front escort IS the pole car, ONE vehicle (the old separate pole car was the double-bill). ROUTE SURVEY moved by statute: required only over 15'6" (TCA 55-7- |
| Over 15'6" | route survey · superloadOver 15'6" high = EXTRA-OVERDIMENSIONAL (Rule .12) + the statutory route-survey trigger (TCA 55-7-205(p)): carrier-performed survey of every vertical clearance; pole-equipped front escort; ≥10 business days. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 90'0" | 1 rear escortOver 90' to 120': one escort 'shall immediately follow the movement' (Rule .11(2)) — REAR on ALL road types, no two-lane flip. Over 75': OVERSIZE LOAD signs front+rear + rear rotating/strobe amber visible 500' (.11(1)). |
| Over 120'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 120': one escort immediately precedes and one immediately follows (Rule .11(3)). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 165,001 lbs and over | route surveyExceeds 165,000 lbs = SUPER HEAVY (Rule .12(1) verbatim): Structures Division approval; carrier route survey + traffic-control proposal + axle detail with the application; lead times 5 business days (165k–250k), 15 (250k–500k), 30 (>500k); bridge-evaluation fee ADDITIVE per proposed route ($100 / $300 / actual by the same tiers); THP discretionary at cost. No other superload surcharge exists. |
2/3 lane / undivided (US, state, local)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 10'0" | 1 front escortOver 10' to 12'6" wide (Rule .06(2) verbatim): NO escort on the interstate, 4+-lane highways, or two-lane highways with pavement ≥24' (excluding shoulders); ONE escort PRECEDES 'where the minimum pavement width (excluding paved shoulders) is less than twenty-four feet (24\') |
| Over 12'6" | 1 front escortOver 12'6" to 13'6": one escort FOLLOWS on interstate/4+-lane; one escort PRECEDES on two-lane (Rule .06(3) verbatim); flagperson at <20' bridges. |
| Over 13'6" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 13'6" to 16': front AND rear escorts on ALL highways + two-way radio contact at all times (Rule .06(4) verbatim); flagperson at <20' bridges. |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route survey · superloadOver 16' wide = EXTRA-OVERDIMENSIONAL (Rule .12): 'A route survey shall be required prior to the issuance of a permit' (carrier-performed, with a traffic-control proposal); if permitted: front + rear escorts on all highways + radio; ≥10 business days lead; THP escort discretionary at cost ($65/hr + 13¢/mi, min 2 officers). The old '>17'1" = 2 front + 1 rear' tier was the HOUSEBOAT rule (.16(6)) — deleted from the general grid. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 15'0" and over | 1 front escort · height poleOver 15' high: the permittee determines all vertical clearances 'by use of a front escort vehicle having protrusions equal to, at a minimum, the height of the permitted vehicle and load' (Rule .10(1)(d) verbatim) — the front escort IS the pole car, ONE vehicle (the old separate pole car was the double-bill). ROUTE SURVEY moved by statute: required only over 15'6" (TCA 55-7- |
| Over 15'6" | route survey · superloadOver 15'6" high = EXTRA-OVERDIMENSIONAL (Rule .12) + the statutory route-survey trigger (TCA 55-7-205(p)): carrier-performed survey of every vertical clearance; pole-equipped front escort; ≥10 business days. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 90'0" | 1 rear escortOver 90' to 120': one escort 'shall immediately follow the movement' (Rule .11(2)) — REAR on ALL road types, no two-lane flip. Over 75': OVERSIZE LOAD signs front+rear + rear rotating/strobe amber visible 500' (.11(1)). |
| Over 120'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 120': one escort immediately precedes and one immediately follows (Rule .11(3)). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 165,001 lbs and over | route surveyExceeds 165,000 lbs = SUPER HEAVY (Rule .12(1) verbatim): Structures Division approval; carrier route survey + traffic-control proposal + axle detail with the application; lead times 5 business days (165k–250k), 15 (250k–500k), 30 (>500k); bridge-evaluation fee ADDITIVE per proposed route ($100 / $300 / actual by the same tiers); THP discretionary at cost. No other superload surcharge exists. |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Night travel allowed |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement hours
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| Default (any permitted load) | CONTINUOUS — 24 hours/day, 7 days/week (Rule .04 verbatim); night marking for over-width/length ½hr after sunset → ½hr before sunrise |
| Urban peak curfew — loads >12'6" W or >15' H or >90' L | No INTERSTATE travel 7–9 AM + 4–6 PM Mon–Fri in the five >250k counties: Shelby, Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Rutherford |
| Holidays (2026 memo) | NO ESCORTED TRAVEL: Easter 6pm Thu 4/2→Sun 4/5 · Memorial noon 5/22→5/25 · July 4 noon 7/2→7/4 · Labor noon 9/4→9/7 · Thanksgiving noon 11/25→11/30 · Christmas 12/24–25 · New Year 12/31–1/1; UNESCORTED loads run continuously; MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Columbus/Veterans normal |
| Superloads, houseboats, mobile homes | Daylight only (FAQ practice; superload timing discretionary per .04(5)); houseboats >16': Tue/Wed/Thu 9 AM–4 PM only |
| Mobile homes (commodity) | Sunrise–sunset Mon–Sat; banned all 11 TCA legal holidays; own curfew ≥85'L/≥14'W/≥14'2"H in heavy urban areas 7–9/4–6 |
| Weather | Discretionary restrictions during inclement weather (.03(15)/.04(4)) |
Where these permits come from
If you file yourself, this is the office you are dealing with. Check the linked page — some states issue OS/OW permits through their highway patrol or revenue department rather than the DOT.
| Tennessee permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | (615) 741-3821 |
| [email protected] |
SOS effective-rules PDF 1680-07-01 (eff. 5/15/2018 · law.cornell.edu · in effect since 2018-05-15. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.