Tennessee Pilot Car Requirements
When does an oversize or overweight load need a pilot car or escort in Tennessee? Here are the width, height, length and weight thresholds that trigger an escort, a height pole, or a police escort.
Escort & pilot car requirements
- Police / law-enforcement escortover 18 ft width
Width over 18 ft or height over 17 ft may require Tennessee Highway Patrol escort (2–3 troopers); determined by permit office.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 17 ft width
Over 17 ft up to 18 ft wide: 2 front + 1 rear escort on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 17 ft width
Over 17 ft up to 18 ft wide: 2 front + 1 rear escort on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 13'6" width
Over 13'6" wide: 1 front + 1 rear on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 13'6" width
Over 13'6" wide: 1 front + 1 rear on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 12'6" width
12'6"–13'6" wide: 1 front on 2-lane; 1 rear on 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 12'6" width
12'6"–13'6" wide on 4+-lane: 1 rear escort required.
- Lead (front) pilot carover 120'1" length
Length over 120'1": 1 front + 1 rear escort on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 120'1" length
Length over 120'1": 1 front + 1 rear escort on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Chase (rear) pilot carover 90 ft length
Length 90–120 ft: 1 rear escort required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
- Height-pole escortover 15 ft height
Height over 15 ft: 1 front escort with height pole required on both 2-lane and 4+-lane highways.
Travel restrictions
- Daylight-only travelover 12'6" width
Loads over 12'6" wide restricted 7–9am and 4–6pm Mon–Fri in Davidson, Hamilton, Shelby, Knox, and Rutherford counties.
- Weekend / holiday restrictionover 12'6" width
Escorted loads restricted noon preceding through end of Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Need a pilot car in Tennessee? See what a Tennessee pilot car costs →
Informational only. These thresholds are compiled from published Tennessee DOT references and are not legal or operational advice. Permit conditions can differ from the general tables, and rules change — always verify with the Tennessee permit office before you move a load.
Need a pilot car in Tennessee?
AmberLight is matching verified escort operators with oversize carriers across Tennessee. Join the waitlist and we'll reach out as we open in your area.
Join the waitlist