TennesseeOversize & overweight permits.

TDOT treats a load as a superload when any of these is true:

• Gross weight over 165,000 lb
• Width over 16′
• Height over 15′6″

TDOT's approximate superload processing times by gross weight:

• 165,000 lb and under: 3 days
• 165,001–250,000 lb: 5 days
• 250,001–500,000 lb: 15 days
• Over 500,000 lb: 30 days
• Regular single-trip and annual permits: up to 3 days

A super heavy or extra-overdimensional application needs these extra items and lead time:

• A detailed proposal of the move, including a route survey
• A detailed sketch of the vehicle and load
• Tire sizes and contact pressures, axle distances and load per axle
• Overall length, width and height
• A detailed traffic control proposal
• Extra-overdimensional loads (over 16′ wide or over 15′6″ high): apply at least 10 business days ahead

The TDOT Structures Division reviews bridges for heavy moves, and charges for each route it evaluates:

• Over 165,000 lb: Structures Division approval before the permit
• Under 165,000 lb: approval may still be needed because of axle spacing
• Over 165,000 to 250,000 lb: $100 per route evaluated
• Over 250,000 to 500,000 lb: $300 per route evaluated
• Over 500,000 lb: actual cost

A route survey is required for a load over 15′6″ high or over 16′ wide.

• Submit it on TDOT's route survey form; other formats are not evaluated
• Set the height pole 6″ above the load height for the survey

When physically running the survey on TDOT's form:

• Pole height 6″ above the overall load height
• No obstruction may have less than 2″ clearance at its lowest point
• Survey the right-most lane unless you list a different lane on the form
• Surveys are valid for 15 calendar days and can take up to 5 days to approve
• Upload the survey to the application before you submit it

Annual permits stop at these sizes; anything bigger needs a single-trip permit.

• Width over 13′6″
• Height over 13′10″
• Length over 90′
• Weight over 165,000 lb
• Annual width from 12′6″ to 13′6″ only with the escort the width rules require

The TDOT permit covers only state and federal roads. Currently only the City of Memphis requires a permit for local roads.

• List the full route, including local roads, on the application
• TDOT checks bridge height and weight limits on local routes as a courtesy

Over 15′ high, a front pilot car with a pole at least as high as the load checks every clearance.

• The pilot car must be able to talk to the truck at all times and call out any clearance lower than the load
• The truck follows at a distance and speed that let it stop on that call

Loads over 18′ wide or 18′ high need THP escorts on top of the pilot cars. Especially complex moves may also need them.

• At least 2 officers for at least 4 hours
• $65.00 per officer per hour plus $.13 per mile
• Send the THP Request Form and the Route Survey / Traffic Control Plan with the pull-offs and layovers filled in
• After the Permit Office approves the move, THP contacts the carrier to schedule it

A licensed vehicle over 2,000 lb with a GVWR under 18,000 lb, equipped with:

• Company name and phone signs, at least 8″ x 12″, on both sides
• A rotating or strobe amber light visible from at least 500′ in all directions
• A yellow OVERSIZE LOAD sign with black 10″ letters on the bumper or roof, visible front and rear
• Two red or fluorescent orange flags, at least 18″ square, on the roof rack at 40–70°
• On board: two-way radio, two 5-lb fire extinguishers, 18″ STOP/GO paddle, safety vest, 18″ red hand flag, two oversize banners, hard hat, and triangles or 18″ cones

Over 10′ wide, a flagperson is required at every bridge where the roadway is less than 20′ wide.

• Over 13′6″ wide, the truck and pilot cars must stay in radio contact the whole move

Loads over 10′ wide or 75′ long carry an OVERSIZE LOAD banner on the front and rear.

• Banner 7′ long and 18″ high, black letters on yellow, letters at least 10″ high
• Over-width: red flags front and rear at the top and bottom of each widest side
• Over-length: red flags at the extreme rear of the load
• Flags solid red and at least 18″ square

From 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise, a load over legal width or length needs:

• One red side marker lamp on each side of the projecting load, at the maximum overhang
• Two red lamps on the rear, one at each side
• Two red reflectors on the rear, one at each side, marking the maximum width

All applications go through TNTRIPS; TDOT takes no phone or email orders.

• If you can't apply online, TDOT points you to a third-party permit service
• Each permit is for one vehicle, so apply separately for each truck
• Use a specific load description; "general freight" or "non-divisible load" is not accepted

File a certificate of insurance with the TDOT Permit Office for at least $300,000 per claimant injured and $1,000,000 per occurrence.

• Companies use the ACORD form; private individuals still need proof of insurance
• The insurer must give TDOT 30 days' written notice by certified mail before cancelling

TDOT does not require IRP or IFTA for the permit, but the truck needs a valid license plate.

• Crossing state lines without IRP or IFTA: get a Trip & Fuel Permit through the Office of Motor Carrier

The driver keeps the original or an authentic copy with a scannable barcode for the whole move. An electronic permit is fine if the barcode scans.

• Show it to TDOT, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security or other police on request
• Follow the restricted route exactly
• The permit is issued in the motor carrier's name

Single-trip permits are valid for 10 days; single-trip mobile home permits for 6 days.

• No extensions and no refunds
• One amendment allowed: dimensions or vehicle in TNTRIPS within 72 hours; routes, load descriptions, annual permits or later changes by amendment form to TDOT.permitoffice@tn.gov

Mobile and manufactured homes have their own permit rule:

• Permit over 8′6″ wide; no moves over 16′ wide
• Permit over 14′2″ high; no moves over 15′6″ high
• Permit over 60′ long including the towing vehicle (90′ under an annual overwidth permit)
• Short-term permits last 6 days; annual permits 365 days
• Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday, not on legal holidays
• 14′+ wide, 85′+ long or 14′2″+ high: no moves 7–9 a.m. or 4–6 p.m. in heavily traveled urban areas

Houseboats use their own escort and travel rules:

• Over 13′6″ to 16′: front and rear escorts; Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m., or sunrise to sunset on weekends
• Over 16′ to 17′: front and rear escorts and a route survey; Tue–Thu 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Over 17′ to 18′: 3 escorts (2 front, 1 rear); Tue–Thu 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Permits over 16′ are valid for only three of those weekdays

House and building moves need front and rear escorts and extra planning:

• Apply at least 14 business days ahead
• Route survey and TDOT regional inspection before the permit; barricade plan approved before the move
• No moves on or across Interstates or other fully access-controlled multi-lane highways
• The mover arranges any overhead wire work with the utility
• TDOT may require a police escort

Self-propelled cranes and drill rigs need a permit when over legal size, steer axle over 20,000 lb, drive axles over 17,000 lb, or gross over 80,000 lb.

• Maximum 150,000 lb gross under their own power
• Maximum 24,000 lb per axle
• County fixed-load plates (Tennessee-registered) or trip and fuel permits are required

Blades or sharp parts making the load over 10′6″ and up to 13′6″ wide must be loaded with the blade at the rear of the hauling equipment. No permit is issued when they make it wider than 13′6″.

TDOT offers these annual permits:

• Over dimensional
• Overweight (can also cover dimensions)
• Cotton seed module
• Mobile homes, 14′ or 16′ wide
• Non-commercial boat
• Ocean-going container
• Roof trusses
• Tow truck