Unless someones is mistaking the term tractor {as in the truck itself} for a farm tractor no state is going to issue trip permits to do such and no insurer will cover it. Legally? The guy who hooked it up and moved it in most states is liable for it. IOW the sheriff would have been justified in placing charges as well as the state and held the driver liable for cost incurred by the county and state.
As for the woman? I bet someone told her what she needed to do and what it would cost for a legal move and the family went bargain hunting for a mover instead. It could have been anything gone bad. The axles put back on by someone not knowing how to do it as well as the tounge. Tires also dry rot. The pro's plan for it and even they can have bad days. Really though most pro's don't like to move oldies in bad shape. Some sales lots do have their own truck and driver to take old ones off for a new sale but that's about it.
With the info we have, I sincerely doubt that the lady who hired “Pancake” had any sound advice and knowledge as stated in your excellent post. Unfortunately, she paid the price of ignorance. [But I still feel badly for her.]