Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions
Oversize loads can move during daylight hours only, while loads between 120 to 150 feet in length are restricted from 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday. In addition, permitted vehicles (with or without additional escort vehicles) cannot travel in inclement weather, including fog, snow, ice, or any other time where there is not enough light to clearly see people and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet.
Oversize loads cannot travel on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. In Tennessee, the permit does not allow the movement of vehicles between 7 am and 9 am and between 4 pm and 6 pm on the weekdays (Monday to Friday) on the interstate highway system. Additionally, the overall operating hours is 144 hours validity.
Signs, Flags, and 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 overheight-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 above the State’s weight limit of 120,000 pounds, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is authorized to issue permits for transportation. As for 150,000 pounds, you will need a special permit from the Commissioner of Transportation. The permit is required for loads that are overheight, overlength, overwidth, or overweight.
To apply for oversized permits in Tennessee, you can visit the Tennessee Department of Transportation website at
https://www.tn.gov/tdot/central-services/oversize---overweight-permits.html Alternatively, you can also call them at (615) 741-3821.
