Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-7-101

No vehicle, truck, engine, or tractor of any kind, whether the vehicle be propelled by steam, gasoline, or otherwise, shall be permitted to operate upon any street, road, highway, or other public thoroughfare that, either by reason of its weight or the character of its wheels, will materially injure the surface or foundation of the street, road, highway, public thoroughfare, including the bridges thereon, unless and until the owner or operator of the vehicle of any kind has complied with the rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the departments of transportation and safety relating to the use of the highways by those vehicles.