Memphis, Tennessee
Heavy Haul in Memphis
Steel, breakbulk and project cargo to and from the Mississippi River terminals, trucked under TDOT permits with height poles and route surveys planned by our own team.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.
Mississippi River heavy haul
From the inland port to the jobsite
Reliable Transport LLC runs heavy haul and superload moves across the USA and Canada from our home base in Dayton, Ohio. For a Memphis load, our in house team files the TDOT permit and any local permit, plans the route and books the escorts, and runs the height pole and route survey Tennessee sets on tall and wide loads.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerAt the port
Port of Memphis and Dock Street
Port facts come from the Port of Memphis and a terminal operator page, each confirmed by a second source.
Inland port
The Port of Memphis is the sixth largest inland port in the U.S. and the second largest inland port on the shallow draft Mississippi, with 68 waterfront facilities and 37 terminals handling steel and other cargo. (Port of Memphis, about, Port of Memphis)
Dock Street terminal
A Dock Street marine terminal on President's Island handles steel and breakbulk by barge, rail and truck, with highway access to I 55. (Watco Memphis Dock Street Marine Terminal, Port of Memphis, about)
Sources: Port of Memphis, about; Port of Memphis; Watco Memphis Dock Street Marine Terminal.
Tennessee rules
Memphis oversize rules at a glance
The height and route survey rule first, then the Tennessee rules every Memphis load runs under.
Tennessee
Official sources linked| Where | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Height | At 15'1"H and up, a front escort with a height pole; over 15'6"H or over 16'W, a TDOT route survey. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1680 07 01 .10 also names 15' or more; TDOT's practice on Luke's permits is over 15'6"H. (Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018), TDOT route survey memo (Sept 12, 2016), TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions) |
| Legal limits | Without a permit, a load in Tennessee can be up to 8'6"W and 13'6"H, at up to 80,000 lbs gross. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018)) |
| Escorts | Over 10'W, a front escort on two lane roads under 24' wide; over 13'6"W, front and rear escorts on every highway; over 90'L, a rear escort. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018)) |
| Travel hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except as limited on the permit. Superloads run in daylight only. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018)) |
| Rush hours | Escorted loads stop 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays in Davidson, Rutherford, Knox, Shelby and Hamilton counties. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018)) |
| Holidays | Escorted loads may not travel in TDOT's holiday restriction periods. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, TDOT 2026 holiday travel restrictions) |
| Superloads | Over 165,000 lbs, 16'W or 15'6"H, with Structures Division approval over 165,000 lbs. (TDOT oversize and overweight permit questions, Tennessee Rules chapter 1680 07 01 (May 2018)) |
Rules change often. We checked these on October 5, 2026 against the official sources linked in each row, and each one against a second source. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
These moves ran on other routes. They show the size of loads our team permits, routes and escorts.
Off highway haul trucks
Tennessee to California in 2024, at 187,000 lbs and 90'L x 16'10"W x 16'2"H loaded.
150,000 lb transformer
Pocatello, ID - Akron, OH in early 2024, at 240,000 lbs gross and 16'H loaded, with help from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
207,000 lb dryer drum
Louisville, KY - Richmond, VA in December 2025, at 300,000 lbs gross and 165'L x 13'6"W x 17'H loaded, with a crew of 15.
Moving something in Memphis?
Send the size and weight. We will tell you what the permit, route and escorts look like.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Questions
Memphis heavy haul questions
When does a Tennessee load need a height pole or route survey?
At 15'1"H and up, a front escort with a height pole; over 15'6"H or over 16'W, a TDOT route survey. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1680 07 01 .10 also names 15' or more; TDOT's practice on Luke's permits is over 15'6"H.
How large is the Port of Memphis?
Sixth largest inland port in the U.S., with 68 waterfront facilities and 37 terminals.
How heavy a load can you haul?
Our superload service handles loads up to 300,000 lbs, with permits, routing and escorts by our own team.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKeep planning
More for your Memphis move
Other city and port pages
Mississippi River heavy haul
Ready to move it?
Send the load dimensions, weight, pickup and delivery points. Our in house team prices the permits, route and escorts and gets back to you fast.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.