Traffic Safety

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Traffic Safety Rules for Hauling Logs and Timber

This bill changes traffic safety rules in Tennessee to require special equipment or escort vehicles when hauling logs, poles, or timber over a certain length.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the law so that trucks carrying logs, poles, or timber longer than 75 feet must have special rear impact protection on their trailers or be followed by an escort vehicle with a sign.
• Requires the rear impact protection to meet safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and extend beyond the longest piece of wood being hauled.
• Specifies that the escort vehicle's sign must be at least 7 feet wide, 18 inches high, and have 'OVERSIZE LOAD' written in black letters on a yellow background.

Who It Names or Affects

• Truck drivers who haul logs, poles, or timber longer than 75 feet.
• The Tennessee Department of Safety and the Department of Transportation.

Terms To Know

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

A federal agency that sets safety standards for vehicles and equipment.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not apply if a federal agency says following its rules could lose the state money from grants or funding.
• It is unclear how many truck drivers will be affected by this new requirement.

Official Summary Text

Present law generally prohibits the limitation as to length of vehicles from applying to loads of poles, logs, or timber in
single length pieces
. However,

a
motor vehicle, including any
part of the body or load, transporting such material
must

not
be in excess of
75 feet
in length unless a permit
for such
has first been obtained
.

This bill adds that a load of poles, logs, or timber must be (i) hauled by
a trailer with an extendable and
retractable rear impact protection that
meets
or exceeds the standards set forth by the national highway traffic safety administration
and extends
beyond the longest log, pole, or piece of timber on the trailer
or (ii)
followed by an escort vehicle with a
sign attached to the rear of the vehicle that
is at least 7 feet wide and 18 inches high and contains the
words "OVERSIZE LOAD" in black letters that are at least 10

inches high on a yellow background
.

However, if
the department of safety or department
of transportation receives documentation from a federal agency that compliance with
a provision of

this bill may
jeopardize federal funding or grant money for the respective department, then th
e applicable
department is not required to comply with such pro
vision
of this bill, but
the department
must
comply with each provision that does not
so
jeopardize such federal funding or grant money.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 615
By Travis

SENATE BILL 596
By Gardenhire

SB0596
002667
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55
and Title 65, relative to vehicles that haul poles,
logs, or timber.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-7-201, is amended by deleting
subsection (f) and substituting instead:
(f) The limitation as to length stated in this section does not apply to loads of
poles, logs, or timber in single-length pieces; provided, that:
(1) The motor vehicle, including any part of the body or load, transporting
such material must not exceed seventy-five feet (75') in length unless a permit
has first been obtained as authorized in § 55-7-205; and
(2) The load of poles, logs, or timber:
(A) Is hauled by a trailer with an extendable and retractable rear
impact protection that:
(i) Meets or exceeds the standards set forth by the
national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) in 49 CFR
571.223; and
(ii) Extends beyond the longest log, pole, or piece of
timber on the trailer; or
(B) Is followed by an escort vehicle with a sign attached to the
rear of the vehicle that:
(i) Is at least seven feet (7′) wide and eighteen inches
(18″) high; and

- 2 - 002667

(ii) Contains the words "OVERSIZE LOAD" in black letters
that are at least ten inches (10″) high on a yellow background.
SECTION 2. If the department of safety or department of transportation receives
documentation from a federal agency that compliance with a provision of this act may
jeopardize federal funding or grant money for the respective department, then that department
is not required to comply with such provision; provided, that the departments shall comply with
each provision of this act that does not jeopardize such federal funding or grant money.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.