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Pilot Car Regulations

Tennessee Pilot Car Regulations

Guidelines for Tennessee pilot car, escort car, and flag car regulations. Always confirm current requirements with the permit office.

Verify before you move: This information comes from our previous website and hasn't been re-checked yet. Rules change often — always confirm with the Tennessee permit office before you dispatch.

Tennesee Road Conditions

When Permit Is Needed

  • Over 8'6" Wide,
  • Over 13'6" High,
  • Over 53' Long

Special Information Needed

  • No additional info needed; TN will not allow more than 20,000/ axle

Times of movement

Sunrise to sunset Mon.-Sat; no Sunday travel

  • Loads greater than 12’6” wide or 85’ or more long-curfew in city limits or heavily traveled areas from 7-9am & 4-6pm M-F
  • Loads that are overweight only may travel 24-7
  • Curfews: Because of traffic, movements 85’ or greater in length and/or movements in excess of 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.
  • Travel prohibited on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
  • Permit office closed on the holidays above plus Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day & the day after Thanksgiving

When Pilot/Escort Vehicle is Required

  • http://www.state.tn.us/sos/rules/1680/1680-07/1680-07-01.pdf
  • 10’ to 12’6”-1 escort if the pavement is less than 20’ wide
  • 12'6" to 13'6”-1 rear escort any interstate highway or 4-lane road; 1 front escort on 2-lane road
  • Over 13'6” to 16' wide requires 2 escorts on all highways
  • Over length- 85' long-1 rear; 120' long- 2 escorts
  • Over height- 1 lead escort (over 15' high)
  • Flagperson on bridges less than 20’

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle

  • General:
  • Signs:“OVERSIZE LOAD” sign (bumper or roof mounted) w/ black letters (10” high x 1 1/2” brush stroke) on yellow background visible from front & rear; made from metal or durable wood or cloth or heavy canvas (if they can be securely fastened to the vehicle with a flat surface backing up the entire area of the sign.
  • Lights: Rotating or strobe type amber light visible from 500’; horizontal placement visible 360 degrees
  • Flags: 2 red/fluorescent orange flags; 18” square min.; mounted at 40-70 degree angle on vehicle’s roof rack
  • Additional equipment: 2-way electronic communication; 2-5lb. Fire extinguishers; “STOP”/”GO” paddle (18” w/ 6” letters); Safety orange vest/shirt/jacket; hand-held red flag (18” square); 2 “OVERSIZE LOAD” banners (black letters on yellow background); hard hat; reflecting triangles or 18” traffic cones Recommended (not required): hand-held 2-way electronic communications; flares; maps; height pole

Requirements for Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operator