Department of Transportation
TDOT
Tennessee • United States of America
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) manages over 14,000 miles of state highways through a state known as the 'Volunteer State's Freight Crossroads.' Key corridors include I-40, I-24, I-65, I-81, I-75, and I-55, making Nashville and Memphis among the nation's top freight hubs. Memphis is the nation's second largest freight hub and home to FedEx World Hub. TDOT administers commercial vehicle permits, manages bridge weight restrictions, and operates the SmartWay Traffic Management System. The department provides Tennessee 511 for statewide road conditions and incident alerts, and coordinates with adjacent states on major freight corridor improvements.
| Official Website | https://www.tn.gov/tdot.html |
|---|---|
| Data API | https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic/ |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Headquarters | Memphis |
Available Data
Social Media
- @TN511 — TN511
Tennessee Trucking Regulations
Size & weight limits, OS/OW permits, and seasonal restrictions for commercial vehicles
Weight Limits
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Max Gross Vehicle Weight | 80000 lbs |
| Single Axle | 20000 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 34000 lbs |
Dimensional Limits
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Max Height | 13.6 ft |
| Max Width | 8.5 ft |
| Max Length (Single Unit) | 40 ft |
| Max Length (Combination) | 65 ft |
OS/OW Permits
Seasonal Restrictions Mar, Apr
Spring weight restrictions may be posted on county roads in higher-elevation areas of East Tennessee, typically March through April. Less pervasive than northern states. Contact county highway departments for current local road postings.
Weigh Station Bypass
27¢/gal
Member
Special Exemptions
Notable Rules
Tennessee is a key southeastern logistics hub — Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga are major freight centers. Memphis is a critical intermodal hub (FedEx World Hub). I-40, I-24, and I-65 are primary freight corridors. The Monteagle grade on I-24 (Sewanee/Monteagle Mountain) requires runaway truck precautions and may have chain requirements during winter ice events.
Sources
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