Tennessee Pilot Car Requirements
When Tennessee requires a pilot car, how many, and when a height pole car is needed. Set by TDOT OS/OW Permit Office.
TN, reviewed October 2026
The short answer for Tennessee
Loads wider than 12 ft 7 in need a pilot car in Tennessee, and wider than 13 ft 7 in need two. A height-pole escort is required at 15 ft 1 in tall.
Tennessee asks for a first pilot car at 12 ft 7 in wide. 21 of the 45 states that publish a width wait until a wider load, and 23 start earlier.
Width 10'1"-12'6": front escort on 2-lane roads under 24 ft wide; 12'7"-13'6": front on 2-lane, rear on interstate/4-lane; 13'7" and up: front and rear; height 15'1" and up: front escort with height pole; length 90'1"-120': rear, over 120': front and rear.
Check your load for Tennessee
Oversize permit required in Tennessee
- Width 10 ft 0 in exceeds the 8 ft 6 in legal limit.
No width-based pilot car at 10 ft 0 in wide.
Tennessee escort thresholds
| First pilot car | 12 ft 7 in wide and over |
|---|---|
| Second pilot car | 13 ft 7 in wide and over |
| Height-pole escort | 15 ft 1 in tall and over |
| Length escort | 90 ft 1 in long and over |
Pilot cars by load width in Tennessee
Escorts to plan for at each width, from the thresholds above. The permit sets front and rear positions.
| Load width | Pilot cars |
|---|---|
| 8 ft 6 in (legal width) | None required for width |
| 9 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 10 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 11 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 12 ft 0 in | None required for width |
| 13 ft 0 in | 1 pilot car |
| 14 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
| 15 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
| 16 ft 0 in | 2 pilot cars |
Height pole by load height in Tennessee
| Load height | Permit needed | Height pole car |
|---|---|---|
| 13 ft 6 in | No | Not required |
| 14 ft 0 in | Yes | Not required |
| 14 ft 6 in | Yes | Not required |
| 15 ft 0 in | Yes | Not required |
| 15 ft 6 in | Yes | Required |
| 16 ft 0 in | Yes | Required |
Before you book an escort
- Read the escort conditions on your Tennessee permit. They control over any summary, including this one.
- Ask about certification and insurance rules for escort drivers at TDOT OS/OW Permit Office ((615) 741-3821).
- See the full Tennessee oversize guide for legal dimensions, travel hours and holiday limits. New to the terms? The glossary covers pilot car and height pole.
Crossing a border? Compare Tennessee with a neighbor: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina.
Sources
- https://www.tn.gov/tdot/traffic-operations-division/oversize---overweight-permits.html
- https://www.tn.gov/tdot/traffic-operations-division/oversize---overweight-permits/frequently-asked-questions.html
- https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/traffic-operations/os-ow/holiday-restrictions/2026%20TDOT%20OS%20OW%20Holiday%20Travel%20Restrictions.doc.pdf
- https://revenue.support.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360060527652-MC-IFTA-13-How-to-Obtain-a-Tennessee-Trip-and-Fuel-Use-Permit
- https://revenue.support.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/360060950111-MC-IRP-15-72-Hour-Trip-Permit
Tennessee Pilot Car FAQs
- How wide can a load be in Tennessee before it needs a pilot car?
- Tennessee requires the first pilot car at 12 ft 7 in wide and a second at 13 ft 7 in wide. Loads up to the 8 ft 6 in legal width travel without a width escort.
- When does Tennessee require a height pole car?
- A height-pole escort is required at 15 ft 1 in tall and over in Tennessee. The pole is set just above the load so the escort driver finds low wires and structures first.
- Is a pilot car required for long loads in Tennessee?
- Tennessee lists a length trigger of 90 ft 1 in for an escort. Check the permit for how many escorts a long load needs.
- Do I need Tennessee pilot car certification?
- Escort driver certification and reciprocity rules differ by state and change often. The permit conditions from TDOT OS/OW Permit Office state who may escort a load, so confirm certification and insurance requirements there before you book an escort.
- Where do the pilot car numbers on this page come from?
- They are taken from Tennessee's published permit rules and statutes, reviewed in October 2026, with the source links listed on this page. Where a figure could not be confirmed it is marked as not confirmed rather than estimated.
Summary of first pilot car at 12 ft 7 in wide, two at 13 ft 7 in, height pole at 15 ft 1 in, reviewed October 2026. Regulations change and this is not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.