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Tennessee DOT Regulations for Oversize/Overweight Load Flags/Banners/Signs/Lights, Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

For All State Regulations, See:

Tennessee Oversize / Overweight Regulations

Running Hours and Holiday Restrictions

Movement is not allowed from sunset to sunrise, anytime on Sunday, or anytime on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Operating Hours: For permits are 24/7 movement unless the load is classified as a Houseboat, Mobile Home, Site Built Home, Commercial Boat, or Super Load. The permit shall not allow movement of vehicles exceeding 12’6” in width, 15’ in height, or 90’ in length on the interstate highway system between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday in counties having a population exceeding 250,000 according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

"Oversized Load" Banner Regulations and Requirements

All movement exceeding 10’ in width and/or 75’ in length shall bear information signs reading “OVERSIZE LOAD” as further provided below. Signs shall be at least 7’ long and 18” high. The background shall be yellow and the lettering black. Letters shall be at least 10” high with a one and 1½” stroke width. Each letter shall be solid. Gaps within the stroke of a letter are not permitted. Signs shall be durable wood or metal construction. Heavy canvas or cloth signs, otherwise meeting same requirements, will be permitted if they can be securely fastened to the movement against a flat surface backing up the entire area of the sign. Signs shall be in a good state of repair, clean and readable.

Flag Requirements

Any motor vehicle having a load or vehicle component which extends more than 4” beyond the sides of the vehicle or more than 4’ beyond the rear of the vehicle shall have the extremities of the load marked with a red or fluorescent orange flag, not less than 18” square, at each point where a lamp is required. Red or fluorescent orange flags shall be fastened to the load (front and rear) at the top and bottom of each side which is widest. Flags shall extend from the load in such a manner as to be visible to traffic approaching from both the front and rear. If the widest part of the load is between the top and the bottom, flags shall be placed at this point both front and rear.

Warning Lights: Color and Placement

For any motor vehicle issued a special permit that has a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination carrying a load in excess of width or length limitations set forth in Rule 1680-07-01-.01(2), the load shall be marked as follows for movements between 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise: On each side of the projecting load, one red side marker lamp, visible from the side, located so as to indicate maximum overhang; and on the rear of the projecting load: Two red lamps, visible from the rear, one at each side; and Two red reflectors, visible from the rear, one at each side, located so as to indicate maximum width.

Source of Information:

Tennessee DOT, News and Memos, Oversize Overweight Permits

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/central-services/oversize---overweight-permits/frequently-asked-questions.html

What is considered as "Oversized Load" in Tennessee?

DIMENSIONS: Width: 8' 6" Height: 13' 6" Truck-Semi Trailer Length: 50' Overhang: Front and rear: 5' WEIGHTS: Single Axle: 20,000 lb. Tandem axle: 34,000 lb. Max Gross Weight: 80,000 lb.

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