Tennessee Truck Bans & Hazmat Routes
Tennessee has no cars-only parkways. The rule that bites is hazmat routing around the cities. In Knoxville, a placarded load with no local stop is kept off I-40 through downtown and routed onto the I-640/I-75 bypass. Nashville and Memphis run local truck-route and no-thru-truck ordinances, with I-440 as Nashville's southern bypass. Follow the posted hazmat and truck-route signs and the state's designated routes, not your car GPS (49 CFR 397).
A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm with the state DOT or the bridge/tunnel authority before you rely on it.
Where Tennessee keeps trucks out
Tennessee has no cars-only parkways. The rule that bites is hazmat routing around the cities. In Knoxville, a placarded load with no local stop is kept off I-40 through downtown and routed onto the I-640/I-75 bypass. Nashville and Memphis run local truck-route and no-thru-truck ordinances, with I-440 as Nashville's southern bypass. Follow the posted hazmat and truck-route signs and the state's designated routes, not your car GPS (49 CFR 397).
Key restrictions
- Knoxville: non-local placarded hazmat off I-40 downtown, use the I-640/I-75 bypass.
- Nashville: I-440 is the southern bypass; local no-thru-truck ordinances apply.
- Memphis: follow designated truck routes and any local hazmat ordinance.
- No cars-only parkways; obey posted truck-route and low-clearance signs, not a car GPS.
- Parkway / road ban: No cars-only parkways. Restrictions are local truck routes plus city hazmat routing; Knoxville sends non-local hazmat around downtown on the I-640/I-75 bypass.
- Hazmat: In Knoxville, non-local placarded hazmat is barred from I-40 through downtown and routed onto the I-640/I-75 bypass; the ban does not apply to loads starting or ending in Knoxville. Nashville and Memphis use local hazmat and truck-route ordinances that steer loads off downtown streets, with I-440 as Nashville's southern bypass. No state-specific tunnel ban; follow the FMCSA-registered Tennessee routes and 49 CFR 397.
- Through-truck routes: Local 'no thru trucks' ordinances and designated truck routes in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville. A through truck with no local stop stays on the marked network; a local delivery leaves it only for the shortest path to the stop. STAA reasonable access applies off the National Network.
- Fine: Running hazmat off a designated route or past a posted truck restriction is a misdemeanor; the state ticket is modest, but a placarded load off-route can draw FMCSA/PHMSA civil penalties in the thousands. A bridge or low-clearance strike is on the driver.
Tennessee Truck Route FAQ
Are there roads that ban trucks in Tennessee?
What are the hazmat restrictions in Tennessee?
What is the fine for a truck on a banned road in Tennessee?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hazardous-materials/national-hazardous-materials-route-registry-%E2%80%93-tennessee-0. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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