Tennessee Oversize/ Overweight

Oversize/
Overweight
Permit Manual
Tennessee
Foreword
The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association is pleased to publish this Oversize/ Overweight Permit Manual.
Each state analysis includes information in a standardized format: contact, legal limits, special permit limits,
general restrictions, types of permits available, fees, escort needs, fines, and restricted travel areas. Telephone
numbers, locations, and hours of operation are listed for ports of entry and permit branches. However, readers
are always advised to check with the state offices on current laws and procedures. This project could not have
been completed without the advice and consultation of many state officials. We thank all of those who provided
permit manuals, maps, laws, regulations, and various other forms of documentation.
Legal Notice
This SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual is intended only to provide concise, easily read information,
useful in planning movements of overdimensional and overweight loads. This Permit Manual is not intended to be
an accurate summary of all the applicable laws and regulations. Users of the Permit Manual should confirm the
information contained herein before dispatching vehicles and loads. The SC&RA cautions Permit Manual users
that state laws and regulations are subject to change without notice, and that some time elapses between the
effective date of such changes and the amendment of the Permit Manual to reflect those changes. The SC&RA
assumes no responsibility for accident, injury, loss or claim, penalties or any other damage resulting from
reliance on the contents of this Permit Manual.
Specialized Carriers &
Rigging Association
5870 Trinity Parkway, Suite 200
Centreville, VA 20120
PHONE: (703) 698-0291
Fax: (571) 722-1698
Website: www.scranet.org
Email: info@scranet.org
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Copyright 1987-2014 by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging
Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher, Joel M. Dandrea, Executive Vice
President, Specialized Carrier & Rigging Association. Requests to
the publisher for permission should be addressed to Joel M.
Dandrea, Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, 5870 Trinity
Parkway, Suite 200, Centreville, VA 20120.
SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual
TENNESSEE
CONTACT
Overweight & Overdimensional Permits
Suite 300
James K. Polk Building
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0331
Hours:
8:00am – 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Phone: (615) 741-3821 (Voice) (615) 741-1159 (Fax)
TDOT.Comments@tn.gov (e-mail)
LEGAL LIMITS
GVW
o (steer)
o
oo
ooo
8' spread
9' spread
—Federal Bridge
80,000
20,000
20,000
34,000
34,000
42,000
42,500
Formula applies
WIDTH:
TOLERANCE:
none
OVERHANG:
HEIGHT:
LENGTH:
8'
8'6"
13'6"
40'
50'
28'6"
52'
(nondesignated highways)
(all highways)
single unit
semitrailer*
doubles
autotransporters and
livestock haulers*
Overall length
**
4'
if 4' or more, must be flagged and
lighted (utility poles must be within
75' overall)
*measured from kingpin to rear
of trailer; kingpin to center of
rear axles = 41'
**single unit, semitrailer, and
doubles lengths apply; truck +
trailer must be within 65' overall
PERMIT LIMITS
o
oo
ooo
oooo
5 axles
6 axles
7 axles
8 axles
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
WIDTH:
HEIGHT:
LENGTH:
16'
15'–15'6"
120' – No Maximum Length
SASHTO: 100’ long, 14’ high, 14’ wide, and 120,000 lbs weight.
PERMIT RESTRICTIONS
General - Permits are valid for six days. Travel is restricted to daylight hours only (one-half hour before
sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) Monday through Saturday. No travel is permitted on Sundays or major
holidays.
Loads 16' wide and over, restricted to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Divisible load permits are not available.
Units with blades or other protruding sharp objects which create an overwidth of 10'6" but no greater than
13'6" must be loaded in such a manner as to place the blade or sharp object to the rear of the trailer. If the
width exceeds 13'6", the bucket or blade must be dismantled.
An original permit shall be in the possession of the driver of the permitted vehicle at all times during the
authorized move.
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Insurance — Operators must have on file proof of financial responsibility, and coverage of at least
$1,000,000.
Weekend/Night Travel –Permits will normally be issued for movements during daylight hours only from
sunrise to sunset on
Monday through Saturday. (Daylight is defined as one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after
sunset local time as established by the National Weather Service). Time of movement may be further
restricted by the issuing authority based upon factors such as type of load, traffic volume, roadway
condition and route of move. However, permits issued exclusively for overweight movements may be
obtained subject to the restrictions imposed by Rule 1680-7-1-.09 for continuous movement twenty-four
(24) hours per day, Monday through Sunday.
Permits will not be issued for movement on Sundays, holidays or nighttime except when the necessity
for the movement is created by an emergency or in the interest of national defense. Permits for
emergency movement of any nature will be considered only upon submission of a justification
statement by the applicant, provided a permit will be issued based on the severity of the emergency and
need for action to protect life or property.
Overlength, overwidth or overheight movements are normally allowed during daylight hours only from
sunrise to sunset on Monday through Saturday. However, because of traffic, movements over eighty-five
feet (85’) in length and/or movements in excess of twelve feet six inches (12’6”) in width will
not be allowed within any city limits or any heavily traveled adjoining commercial or residential area
between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) from Monday through
Friday.
Movement up to eighty-five feet in length and overweight only are granted continuous movement. The load
is marked as follows:
On each side of the projecting load, one (1) red side marker lamp, visible from the side, located as so
Indicate maximum overhang;
On the rear of the projecting load, two (2) red lamps, visible from the rear, one (1) at each side; and
two (2) red reflectors, visible from the rear, one (1) at each side, located so as to indicate maximum
width.
This subsection shall only apply to a single truck-tractor and semitrailer combination.
Time of movement may be further restricted upon, among other things, type of load, traffic volume,
roadway conditions, and route of move.
Holiday –
No permits will be issued for movement on the day the following holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day – January 1

Good Friday – Friday before Easter

Memorial Day – Last Monday in May

Independence Day – July 4

Labor Day – First Monday in September

Thanksgiving Day – Fourth Thursday on November

Christmas Day – December 25
Inclement Weather Movement under special permit will not be allowed during inclement weather when conditions prevail which
would make the movement unsafe.
Permit Information Required — The applicant must provide the following information:
(a) Name of Applicant
(b) Address of Applicant
(c) Description of article and/or commodity to be moved
(d) Method of moving - (Truck & Trailer, Towing by Truck, Under own Power, etc.)
(e) Overall dimensions and/or gross weight of load
(f) Number and spacing of Axles, including steering (if overweight)
(g) Origin and Destination of movement within Tennessee
(h) Proposed highway routes over which movement will be made
(i) Proposed effective date of permit
(j) Address to which permit is to be transmitted and method of transmittal
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PERMIT TYPES
Single Trip — Good on specified route for 6 days.
Annual — Permit good statewide and restricted to vehicles not over 13'6" in width, 13'10" in height, 80' in
length, or 150,000 lbs. GVW (for construction equipment only).
Multi State – A permit for movement through more than one state may be obtained by application
submitted by phone or facsimile through qualified Multi-State Agent. All requests must be ordered with a 24
hour lead time to coordinate all states effective dates and times, and conform to the guidelines as
represented in the SASHTO Agreement in the Multi State Permitting Manual.
There are special permit conditions for permitting the movement of Fixed-Load Vehicles, Site-Built Homes,
Mobile/Modular Homes, Houseboats, Sealed Containers, Roof Trusses, Off-the-Road Vehicles or Equipment
that can be located at the Rules of Tennessee DOT Central Services Division, Chapter 1680-7-1 Overweight
and Overdimensional Movements on Tennessee Highways.
FEES
Width:
Not more than 10'
$10
Over 10', but not over 12'
$15
Over 12' but not over 14'
$25
Over 14' but not over 16'
$30
Over 16'
$30 + $5 for each additional foot or fraction thereof
Height or Length: $15
Weight: $15 + $.05 per ton/mile
Annual: $500 for vehicles up to 120,000 lbs. GVW; $1,000 for vehicles over 120,000 lbs. and up to
150,000 lbs. GVW.
Multi-State: A permit for movement through more than one state may be obtained by application
submitted by phone or facsimile through a qualified Multi-State Permit Agent. All requests must be ordered
with a 24 hour lead time to coordinate all states effective dates and times, and conform to the guidelines as
represented in the SASHTO Agreement in the Multi State Permitting Manual.
Evaluation of Bridges and Similar Structures: fees range from $100 – actual cost depending on weight.
No permit fees will be refunded after issuance.
ESCORTS AND SIGNS
Labeling — Oversize Load signs are required on vehicles over 10' in width or 75' in length, and must have
dimensions of 7' x 1'6", and have a yellow background. Lettering must be black, 10" in height, and with a
1.5" wide brush stroke.
Red flags, 18" square in size, must be fastened at a 40 to 70 degree angle on the escort vehicle’s roof rack.
Flags are required on vehicles exceeding 10' in width.
Escort Vehicles and Personnel — All escort vehicles must weigh more than 2,000 lbs and have a GVW
rating less than 10,000 lbs and be equipped with either a rotating amber light or a strobe type amber light
which is visible from at least 500 feet and has a horizontal placement which shall be visible from all
directions 360 degrees.
One escort must precede movements on two-lane roads. A single escort should follow loads on four-lane
roads. A rear escort is required on vehicles over 12'6" in width (but not exceeding 14' in width), and over
85' in length. Movements over 14’ wide but not exceeding 16’ wide require front and rear escort vehicles on
all highways. Two escorts are required for vehicles over 120' in length. A lead escort is required for vehicles
over 15' in height, and the escort must carry a height pole.
Certification – Pilot Car Escort Certification is not currently required.
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FINES
Responsibility of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Overdimension Only: $25–$105 + court costs
Overweight Fines: $25, plus (1) court costs (ranging between $40-$90), and (2) $.03 per lb. for the first 3
percent over, and $.05 per lb. for the remainder.
Overweight fines are computed based on the permit weight, unless the amount of weight over would require
another axle. If another axle would be required, then fines are computed based on the legal weight of the
vehicle.
The state allows no time to shift a load to make axle weights legal. Operators may be fined for either overaxle or over-gross violations, whichever produces the greater fine.
Any person, firm, company or corporation that undertakes the movement of any overweight and/or
overdimensional piece(s) of equipment and/or commodity contrary to the provisions of T.C.A. section 59-11205 and to the provisions of these regulations shall, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Transportation,
be denied further permit(s) for such overweight and/or overdimensional movement for such period of time,
not to exceed one (1) year, as the Commissioner of Transportation, in exercising such discretion, shall deem
appropriate.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL
Rule 1680-7-1-.15 Conditions for Movement of Manufactured Houses or Portable Modular Units (2) Not
withstanding any other rule or regulation to the contrary, movements are allowed during daylight hours only
from sunrise to sunset on Monday through Saturday. However, movements over eighty-five feet (85') in
length or twelve feet six inches (12’6”) in width will not be allowed within any statewide city limits and all
heavily traveled adjoining commercial or residential areas between the hours of 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m.
(local time) from Monday through Friday. Permits issued exclusively for overweight movements may be
obtained subject to the restrictions imposed by Rule 1680-7-1-09 for continuous movement twenty-four
(24) hours per day, Monday through Sunday.
Moving heavy equipment at railroad grade crossings.
No rule on file.
PORTS OF ENTRY
Port Of Entry-Tri-Cities
Port Information
Port Code:
Location Address:
Mailing Address:
General Phone:
General Fax:
Operational Hours:
2082
Air Cargo Building
Tri-Cities Regional Airport
Blountville, TN 37617
P.O. Box 1058
Blountivlle, TN 37617
(423) 325-6498
(423) 325-6499
8:30 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
Port Of Entry-Chattanooga
Port Information
Port Code:
Location Address:
Mailing Address:
Port Director:
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2008
5959 Shallowford Road
Suite 429-0
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Same As Above
Valerie Gann
SC&RA Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual
General Phone:
General Fax:
Operational Hours:
(423) 855-6625
(423) 855-6627
8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
Port Of Entry-Knoxville
Port Information
Port Code:
Location Address:
Mailing Address:
2016
Duncan Federal Building, Room 435
710 Locust Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Same As Above
Port Director:
General Phone:
Jeff Bednar
(865) 545-4771
General Fax:
Operational Hours:
(865) 545-4774
8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
Service Port-Memphis
Port Information
Port Code:
Location Address:
2006
Mailing Address:
3150 Tchulahoma Road
Suite 1
Memphis, TN 38118
Same As Above
Port Director:
General Phone:
General Fax:
Martin Childs
(901) 544-0291
(901) 544-0294
Operational Hours:
8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Central)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
Port Of Entry-Nashville
Port Information
Port Code:
2007
Location Address:
612 Hangar Lane
Room 124
Nashville, TN 37217
Mailing Address:
Port Director:
Same As Above
Mark Treanor
General Phone:
General Fax:
(615) 736-2173 Ext: 1
(615) 736-7204
Operational Hours:
8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Central)
Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
PERMIT ORDERING
Applications for special permits may be made in person, by letter, or by telephone to the Supervisor of
Overweight and Overdimensional Permits, Suite 300, James K. Polk State Office Building, 505 Deaderick
Street, Nashville, TN 37243-0331, 615-741-3821 and through a permit transmittal service. Online
application is not currently available.
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SPECIAL NOTES
Recent Changes – TDOT SmartWay Mobile: Get traffic and TDOT cams on your Smartphone.
http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/mobile.htm
On October 22nd, 2013 the Tennessee Oversize and Overweight Permitting System(TOOPS) was
updated to reflect the following changes:
External Changes
1. When applying for a single trip permit, the following information will now be required:
a. Power Unit License Plate State; and
b. Power Unit License Plate Number.
2. The following three fields will now be displayed on the permit PDF:
a. Power Unit License Plate State;
b. Power Unit License Plate Number; and
c. Vehicle Identification Number.
3. Size and weight permit information will now be uploaded to CVIEW to allow officers
access to permit information at the roadside.
4. A barcode was added to all permit documents to allow law enforcement to scan permits
at the roadside.
On April 10th, 2013 the Tennessee Oversize and Overweight Permitting System(TOOPS) was
updated to reflect the following changes:
1. TOOPS will now automatically issue the following permit types without requiring agent
review.
a. Overdimensional: up to 16’ in width and up to 14’6” in height
b. Mobile Homes : up to 16’ in width and up to 14’6” in height
c. Roof Trusses : up to 16’ in width and up to 14’6” in height
d. Ocean Going Container: up to 90,000 lbs overall gross, maximum of 20,000 lbs on
an axle, passes load screening
e. Other: up to 16’ in width and up to 14’6” in height, up to 150,000 lbs overall
gross, maximum of 20,000 lbs on an axle
Pending Changes – None Noted
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