Arkansas vs Tennessee Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between Arkansas and Tennessee: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-40, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the Arkansas and Tennessee border

Legal height
Arkansas allows 14 ft 0 in without a permit; Tennessee stops at 13 ft 6 in. A load between the two is legal in Arkansas and needs a permit in Tennessee.
First pilot car
Tennessee requires a pilot car from 12 ft 7 in wide; Arkansas waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Tennessee only.
Height pole
Arkansas requires a height-pole escort from 15 ft 0 in; Tennessee from 15 ft 1 in.

Check one load against both states

Arkansas

  • Oversize permit required
  • No width escort

Tennessee

  • Oversize permit required
  • No width escort

11 ft 0 in wide, 14 ft 0 in tall. Length is not checked here.

Side by side

Arkansas and Tennessee oversize load rules compared
RuleArkansasTennessee
Legal width8 ft 6 in8 ft 6 in
Legal height14 ft 0 in13 ft 6 in
Legal lengthNot confirmedStraight truck 45 ft; straight truck with trailer 65 ft; tractor-semitrailer 50 ft kingpin to rear of trailer (52 ft autos/livestock); twin trailers 28.5 ft each; no overall tractor-trailer cap listed.
Gross weight80,000 lbs80,000 lbs
First pilot car at14 ft 0 in12 ft 7 in
Second pilot car atNot confirmed13 ft 7 in
Height pole at15 ft 0 in15 ft 1 in
Length escort at100 ft 0 in90 ft 1 in
Travel hoursDaylight hours only (NOAA); no movement through Greater Little Rock on I-30, I-40, I-630 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.; not valid when visibility under 500 ft or in inclement weather.Loads not requiring escorts: continuous (24/7) travel. Escorted loads must observe rush-hour county curfews, Mon-Fri 7-9 am and 4-6 pm in Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, Shelby and Hamilton counties. Superloads, houseboats and mobile homes: daylight only; site-built houses daylight only unless local authorities stipulate night.
WeekendsPermits may be issued for Saturday and Sunday movement (daylight) unless the weekend is restricted by a Monday/Friday holiday.No general weekend restriction; non-escorted loads travel continuously. Escorted travel is restricted around holiday weekends (see holiday).
Trip permitFee not confirmed$30.00
Permit office501-569-2381 (Arkansas Highway Police Division, ARDOT Permit Section)(615) 741-3821 (TDOT OS/OW Permit Office)

Go deeper

Arkansas and Tennessee FAQs

Do Arkansas and Tennessee require pilot cars at the same width?
Tennessee requires a pilot car from 12 ft 7 in wide; Arkansas waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in Tennessee only.
Is the legal truck height the same in Arkansas and Tennessee?
Arkansas allows 14 ft 0 in without a permit; Tennessee stops at 13 ft 6 in. A load between the two is legal in Arkansas and needs a permit in Tennessee.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between Arkansas and Tennessee?
Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from Arkansas Highway Police Division, ARDOT Permit Section and one from TDOT OS/OW Permit Office, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in Arkansas and Tennessee?
Arkansas: Daylight hours only (NOAA); no movement through Greater Little Rock on I-30, I-40, I-630 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.; not valid when visibility under 500 ft or in inclement weather. Tennessee: Loads not requiring escorts: continuous (24/7) travel. Escorted loads must observe rush-hour county curfews, Mon-Fri 7-9 am and 4-6 pm in Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, Shelby and Hamilton counties. Superloads, houseboats and mobile homes: daylight only; site-built houses daylight only unless local authorities stipulate night. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Compiled from each state's published permit rules, reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.