Nashville, Tennessee
Heavy Haul in Nashville
Oversize and overweight loads into and through Nashville, where I 24, I 40 and I 65 meet downtown, permitted, routed and escorted 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.
Middle Tennessee heavy haul
From Dayton to Nashville
Reliable Transport LLC runs heavy haul and superload moves across the USA and Canada from Dayton, Ohio. For a Nashville load, our in house team files the TDOT permit, plans the route around Davidson County rush hours and the downtown Inner Loop, and books the escorts.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerAround Nashville
The Inner Loop and beyond
Each local fact is linked to its source and confirmed by a second one.
The Inner Loop
I 65, I 24 and I 40 form the Inner Loop around downtown Nashville, and I 440 links I 65 to I 24 and I 40. (TDOT Inner Loop study scope (July 2025), TDOT news, July 13, 2026)
A study of the downtown Interstates
TDOT is running a planning study of the Interstates in and around downtown Nashville and held public meetings on it in 2026. (TDOT news, July 13, 2026, NewsChannel 5 Nashville)
Tennessee rules
Nashville oversize rules at a glance
The Davidson County rush hour rule first, then the Tennessee rules every Nashville load runs under. The full list is on our Tennessee oversize permit rules page.
Tennessee
Official sources linked| Where | Restriction |
|---|---|
| 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)) |
| 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)) |
| 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 9, 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.
Services we haul here
What we haul in Nashville
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
These moves show the size of load our team permits, routes and escorts.
207,000 lb dryer drum
Louisville, KY to 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.
220,000 lb submarine engine
Within Missouri in January 2025, at 320,000 lbs gross and 136'L x 10'W x 16'H loaded.
160,000 lb transformer
Delivered to Obetz, Ohio, on the southeast edge of Columbus, in December 2024, with permits by our own team.
Moving something in Nashville?
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
Nashville heavy haul questions
Can escorted loads move at rush hour in Nashville?
No. Escorted loads stop 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays in Davidson County, and the same rule covers Rutherford, Knox, Shelby and Hamilton counties.
When does a Tennessee load need a route survey?
Over 15'6"H or over 16'W, TDOT requires a route survey. At 15'1"H and up, a front escort with a height pole is required.
Can oversize loads run at night in Tennessee?
Permitted loads may travel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except as limited on the permit. Superloads run in daylight only.
Which Interstates meet in Nashville?
I 65, I 24 and I 40 meet downtown in what TDOT calls the Inner Loop, and I 440 links them.
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 Nashville move
Nearby city and state pages
Nashville, Tennessee
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.