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You’ve hauled heavy loads before. You know the basics. But Tennessee will still catch you off guard if you don’t know exactly where trucks get stopped, restricted, or outright banned. This state sits in the middle of some of the busiest freight corridors in the country — I-40 alone stretches coast to coast through it — and the route restrictions here are layered in ways that catch drivers who think they’ve seen it all.

Tennessee handles roughly 12% of the nation’s cargo. That’s not a small number. With over 10,000 trucking companies operating across 95,523 miles of public roads, the state has a vested interest in keeping its infrastructure intact. That means weight limits, height restrictions, banned roads, city-level ordinances, and scenic byway prohibitions that don’t show up on every GPS.

This guide breaks all of it down — state rules, city rules, the roads you absolutely cannot take, and what happens if you get it wrong.

How Tennessee Sets Its Truck Route Restrictions

Tennessee’s Department of Transportation (TDOT) sets statewide height and weight restrictions for trucks traversing its roadways. This isn’t one rule that covers everything. It’s a system — federal standards on the interstate, state-level limits on the highway system, county-level adjustments based on local bridge and road conditions, and municipal ordinances layered on top in cities like Nashville and Memphis.

The core framework follows federal guidelines, which means the interstate system uses the federal bridge formula to calculate maximum gross weights based on axle spacing. But state highways and county roads can and do have tighter limits. If a bridge in a rural county can only handle 60,000 pounds, that restriction stands regardless of what the interstate allows a mile away.

This layered approach is exactly why route planning for commercial vehicles in Tennessee takes more than a quick GPS check. You need to know which type of road you’re on and what limits apply to that specific stretch.

Tennessee Truck Weight and Dimension Limits at a Glance

Here’s what you’re working with on standard Tennessee roads without any special permits:

Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight: 80,000 lbs — this applies on both state highways and the interstate system.

Single Axle Limit: 20,000 lbs

Tandem Axle Limit: 34,000 lbs per tandem group. Two consecutive tandem axle sets can each carry 34,000 lbs, but only if the distance between the first and last axle is 36 feet or more.

Tridem Axle Limit: 60,000 lbs for any three-axle group.

Max Height: 13 feet 6 inches — strictly enforced across all Tennessee highways.

Max Width: 8 feet 6 inches on the National Network.

Length Limits: Straight trucks max out at 45 feet. A truck-and-trailer combination can run up to 65 feet total. Semi-trailers are limited to 50 feet.

Overhang: Front and rear overhang can’t exceed 5 feet without a permit.

Anything beyond these numbers means you need a special permit from TDOT before you move. No exceptions.

Read more about Tennessee Truck Weight Limits from this guide.

Where Trucks Are Actually Restricted or Banned in Tennessee

This is where it gets specific — and where most violations happen.

The Natchez Trace Parkway: A Hard No

This is the clearest truck ban in the state. The Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles from Nashville southwest into Mississippi, managed entirely by the National Park Service. Commercial traffic is prohibited along the entire route. Trucks over one ton rated capacity are not permitted on the parkway under any circumstances.

It’s not a gray area. The NPS has added universal no-truck symbol signs at every entrance after repeated problems with drivers ignoring the ban. If you see a semi on the Natchez Trace, you can report it by calling 1-800-300-PARK. Rangers take it seriously because the roadbed was never built to handle commercial vehicle weight, and overweight traffic has already caused measurable damage to the parkway.

If your route planning tool tries to push you onto the Natchez Trace between Nashville and the Mississippi border, override it immediately. Use I-40 or I-24 to get where you need to go.

Scenic Byways and Designated Parkways

Tennessee has 13 scenic byway routes, including 10 designated at the national level — more than any other state east of the Mississippi. Many of these roads were designed for passenger vehicles and tourism traffic, not heavy commercial loads. Twin trailers and oversized trucks are restricted or prohibited on most of these routes.

Key roads to stay off include the Great Smoky Mountains Byway (US Highway 321), Newfound Gap Road through the national park, the Cherohala Skyway, the Woodlands Trace through Land Between the Lakes, and the Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway. These roads have tight curves, low clearances at certain points, and weight-rated bridges that were not engineered for 80,000-pound trucks.

City-Level Truck Route Restrictions in Tennessee

Nashville: Nashville has been tightening its grip on commercial vehicles in recent years. The Metropolitan Government prohibits parking of trucks or motor vehicles exceeding ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating, box trucks, food trucks, food trailers, trailers, or semi-trailers on any street within Metro jurisdiction. The city is pushing further restrictions through new ordinances that lower the weight threshold and impose stricter time limits on heavy truck presence on city streets. If you’re delivering in Nashville, know your designated loading zones and don’t park on residential or commercial streets without authorization.

Memphis: Memphis sits at the crossroads of I-40, I-55, and I-240 — one of the most heavily trafficked truck corridors in the Southeast. Most congestion and accidents along the Memphis beltway occur on I-240, particularly where it meets I-69 and I-55 north of Graceland, and where it meets State Route 385 in the city’s southeast region. While Memphis doesn’t ban trucks from its interstate system outright, residential areas and certain inner-city routes have weight and access restrictions that commercial drivers need to respect. Pay special attention during rush hour — the I-240 corridor backs up badly and the merge points are accident-prone for large vehicles.

Knoxville: East Tennessee’s mountain terrain creates natural restrictions. Bridges and underpasses in the Knoxville metro area have posted weight and clearance limits that are lower than interstate standards on certain connector routes. Always verify posted limits before committing to a route through the city grid.

Construction Zone Restrictions

Tennessee runs active construction on its highway system year-round. For current road conditions, check smartway.tn.gov. Construction zones frequently impose lane restrictions, width limitations, and outright truck prohibitions on certain segments. A road that was open last week may be restricted this week. The state’s SmartWay system provides real-time updates, and 511 (or 877-244-0065 outside Tennessee) gives you live traffic information by phone.

Tennessee Truck Restricted Routes — Quick Facts & Statistics

Category	Fact	Detail
Weight Limits	Max Gross Vehicle Weight	80,000 lbs (state & interstate)
	Single Axle Limit	20,000 lbs
	Tandem Axle Limit	34,000 lbs per group
	Tridem Axle Limit	60,000 lbs
Dimensions	Max Height	13 ft 6 in
	Max Width	8 ft 6 in
	Straight Truck Max Length	45 ft
	Truck + Trailer Combo	65 ft total
	Semi-Trailer Length	50 ft
Hard Bans	Natchez Trace Parkway	Commercial traffic prohibited (entire 444-mile route)
	National Scenic Byways	13 routes; twin trailers & oversized loads restricted or banned
Permits (Special)	Single Axle (permitted)	Up to 23,000 lbs
	Tandem Axle (permitted)	Up to 46,000 lbs
	Super Load Threshold	Loads over 165,000 lbs require TDOT Structures Division approval
Permits (Costs)	Single Trip Permit	Starting at $20
	Annual Permit (up to 120,000 lbs)	$500
	Annual Permit (120,001–150,000 lbs)	$1,000
	Bridge Evaluation (165,001–250,000 lbs)	$100 per route
Fines	First Offense (Overweight)	$25 + $0.03 per pound over limit
	Subsequent Offenses	$25 + $0.05 per pound over limit
	Court Costs	$40–$90+
Processing Times	Standard Single Trip Permit	3–5 business days
	Overweight Single Trip Permit	7–10 business days
	Super Load Permit	Up to 30 days
Industry Context	TN Share of National Cargo	~12%
	Trucking Companies in TN	10,000+
	TN Public Road Miles	95,523
	US Freight Moved by Truck	~72.5% by weight

Getting Permits for Oversized and Overweight Loads in Tennessee

If your load exceeds standard Tennessee limits, you need a permit before you move. Period. TDOT issues these through its online TNTRIPS portal, and you need an active account before you can even start an application.

There are three main permit types worth knowing:

Single Trip Permits cover one movement from point A to point B. Standard dimensional permits process in 3–5 business days. If your load is also overweight, budget 7–10 business days. Super loads — anything over 165,000 pounds — can take up to 30 days because TDOT’s Structures Division has to evaluate every bridge on your proposed route.

Annual Permits make sense if you’re running oversized or overweight loads regularly through Tennessee. They allow multiple trips over the course of a year. Annual permits for loads up to 120,000 pounds run $500. Between 120,000 and 150,000 pounds, that jumps to $1,000.

Super Load Permits are for the really heavy stuff. Any movement over 165,000 pounds requires prior approval from the TDOT Structures Division before a permit will even be issued. The permit fee structure for these includes per-ton-mile charges on top of the base cost.

A few things that trip people up: permits can only be amended once, and only within 8 hours of issuance for single trip permits. You must have a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming TDOT on file. And permits are issued to specific vehicles — if you swap trucks, you need a new permit.

Contact the TDOT Permit Office at (615) 741-3821 or email TDOT.PermitOffice@tn.gov with questions. They’re open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST.

What Happens When You Get It Wrong: Penalties for Non-Compliance

Ignoring truck route restrictions in Tennessee isn’t a minor inconvenience. The penalties stack up fast.

A first offense for exceeding posted weight limits runs $25 plus $0.03 per pound over the legal limit. After the first violation within a calendar year, that per-pound fine jumps to $0.05. Court costs add another $40 to $90 or more on top of the base fine.

For the really serious violations — running without a permit on roads that require one, or operating on routes where trucks are prohibited — you’re looking at Class C misdemeanor charges. Repeat violations can lead to vehicle impoundment, suspension of operating privileges, and permit revocation for up to 90 days.

In 2025, Tennessee prohibited unlicensed individuals from booting vehicles and limited booting to commercial lots only. It’s also now illegal to boot or immobilize trucks and trailers clearly identified as commercial vehicles anywhere in Tennessee. This was a direct response to predatory practices against truckers, but it also shows the state is paying closer attention to how commercial vehicles are treated — and how they’re operated.

The financial hit from fines is one thing. The real cost is the delay. A vehicle impoundment or a permit suspension doesn’t just cost you the fine — it costs you the load, the deadline, and potentially the relationship with the client.

How to Plan Routes That Actually Comply

Route compliance in Tennessee comes down to three habits:

First, know what type of road you’re on. Interstate, state highway, county road, or municipal street — each has its own weight and dimension rules. The posted signs are your baseline, but they don’t always tell the whole story on county roads.

Second, use the right tools. TDOT’s SmartWay system at smartway.tn.gov tracks real-time road conditions and construction closures. For commercial vehicle navigation specifically, apps like Trucker Path or CoPilot GPS filter routes based on your truck’s height, width, and weight. A standard consumer GPS will send you down roads that will get you a citation or stuck.

Third, get your permits sorted before you move, not after. Single trip permits need to be ordered up to three days before your start date at the earliest — TDOT won’t approve them further in advance than that. If you’re running a super load, start the permit process a month ahead.

If you regularly haul heavy equipment or oversized loads through Tennessee, working with a heavy truck hauling service that understands the state’s route restrictions will save you time, money, and headaches. We handle permit applications, route surveys, and compliance checks so you’re not guessing when the load needs to move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum gross vehicle weight allowed on Tennessee highways?  

80,000 lbs on both state highways and the interstate system, without a special permit.

Q: Are trucks allowed on the Natchez Trace Parkway?  

No. Commercial vehicles are prohibited on the entire 444-mile route. Trucks over one ton rated capacity are banned outright by National Park Service regulations.

Q: How much does an oversize permit cost in Tennessee?  

Single trip permits start at $20. Annual permits run $500 for loads up to 120,000 lbs and $1,000 for loads between 120,000 and 150,000 lbs. Super loads over 165,000 lbs have additional per-ton-mile charges.

Q: What happens if I exceed the posted weight limit on a Tennessee road? 

First offense is $25 plus $0.03 per pound over the limit, plus court costs of $40–$90. Repeat violations within the same year jump to $0.05 per pound over, and can result in vehicle impoundment.

Q: Where do I apply for an overweight permit in Tennessee? 

Through TDOT’s TNTRIPS online portal. You need an active account first. You can also contact the TDOT Permit Office at (615) 741-3821 or email TDOT.PermitOffice@tn.gov.