MASSACHUSETTS LEGAL LIMITS Designated Highways All Other Roads Designated Highways All Other Roads GVW Single 80,000 80,000 22,400 22,400 18,000 less than 6' apart Tandem 34,000 34,000 Less than 46" between centers = 1 axle Tridem 36,000 36,000 --Federal Bridge Formula applies WIDTH HEIGHT LENGTH 8 6 13'6" 40 8'6" 13'6" 40' Single unit, buses 45' 45' Buses 53' Semi-trailer 33' 33' Trailers 28'Twins/Doubles not allowed 75' 75' Stinger-steered Not allowed Rocky Mtn.Doubles Not allowed Triples 75' 75' Saddle-mounts TOLERANCE 5% on gross weight for reducible load permits only TIRE WIDTH800 lbs. per inch width ACCESS Terminal access allowed as long as it is deemed safe OVERHANG Auto-transporters 3' front and 4' rear EXEMPTIONS None PERMIT LIMITS ROUTINE ISSUE Weight: Single Tandem Tridem Quad Gross Weight: Reducible Non-Reducible 5 axles 99,000 130,000 6 axles 99,000 130,000 7 axles 99,000 130,000 8 axles 99,000 130,000 Tandem combination maximum weight 127,400 lbs. For 92' spacings; tractor and semi-trailer 71,000 lbs., unit of dolly and semi-trailer 56,400 lbs. Length: 115' Width: 14' Height: 14' Over 13'8" high requires a route survey. If load exceeds any of these dimensions or weights, refer to section on Super Loads. MA-1 07/12
PERMIT RESTRICTIONS General - Single trip permits are valid for five (5) consecutive days. Extensions/Revisions - Will revise on a case by case basis. In some situations a verbal revision will be given. Operating Time - As a general rule, except as otherwise provided herein, all over-dimensional and overweight vehicles with a permit may travel from Monday morning 12:01 a.m. - 12:00 noon on Saturday except for special exceptions. Vehicles between 12' and 14' wide, over 80' but not exceeding 114' in length and over 13'11" height may travel under permit only during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) except that no such travel shall be allowed between the hours of 7:00 am 9:00 am and between the hours of 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Vehicles over 14' wide, and/or over 115' long may travel between the hours of 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lift Axles - Lift axles must bear its full share of the load on the roadway surface. Divisible Loads - Normally a permit may not be issued for oversize vehicles if in the opinion of the Department, a load can be divided or arranged so as to conform with the following size limitations: width 8'6", height 13'6", single vehicle except buses 40', bus 45', Articulated Bus 60'. Exceptions - Components must be detached. All pieces over 14' wide must be reduced. If a component which is detached creates the overweight it must be hauled separately. Self-Propelled Equipment - No restrictions apply to the hours of operations of hydraulic cranes 11' wide or less and not more than 49' 11" long operating under their own power, except for Route 95, Route 93 and Central Artery restrictions. Other types of cranes operating under their own power shall travel under permit during daylight hours except no travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00-9:00 a.m. or 3:00-7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The maximum length of a crane is 95'. Self-propelled equipment is not allowed if it has metal track pads or metal wheels. Intermodal - Container must be sealed ocean-going cargo units in international trade. Containers must be going to or from a port. Weight may not exceed 88,000 lbs. Fee: $300 semi-annual. Routing for point to point moves shall be specified on the permit. The permit shall not be valid on any other routes. Manufactured Housing/Mobile Homes - No permit will be granted and no travel on state highways will be allowed for modular, sectional or mobile homes exceeding 13'6" in total height. Modular, sectional or mobile homes between 12' and 14' wide may travel only under permit during daylight hours Monday through Friday, except that no such travel will be allowed between the hours of 7:00-9:00 a.m. or between the hours of 3:30-7:00 p.m. The maximum width for a modular, sectional or mobile home is 16', but there are limited routes available. Call for details. Road Flaggers and Police Details Regulation 701 C.M.R. Section 7.00, effective October 3, 2008 addresses responsibilities of road flaggers and police details (including flagger training and work zone instruction). Insurance - Public liability insurance affording coverage of not less than $1,000,000/2,000,000 for all damages arising from bodily injury including death and $1,000,000 for property damages including general, automobile and contractual liability. Must carry minimum insurance of $750/500/10 for all ICC carriers. Weekend/Night Travel - Saturday and Sunday until 12:00 noon. Holiday - Travel is prohibited on the following holidays: New Year's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day MA-2 07/12
Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day The State Permit Office will be closed on the above-mentioned holidays as well as Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Columbus Day and Veteran's Day, but travel is not restricted on these additional days. No movements are allowed between noon the day preceding and noon the day following the above listed holidays. Inclement Weather No spring weight restrictions. A permit shall temporarily be suspended if determined by Mass Highway that there is inclement weather, reconstruction or other conditions that would cause a hazard to the people of the state. Mass Highway may restrict movement in certain areas and for certain times depending on the dimensions of the vehicle. The restrictions will be printed on the permit. Permit Information Required - License number of hauling vehicle, semi-trailer or trailer, date move is requested, overall dimensions, gross weight, number of axles, origin, destination, routes to be traveled, company name and address. PERMIT TYPES Reducible Load Permits are issued to vehicles carrying bulk materials such as sand, gravel, logs, trash, and petroleum in tankers, etc.. Permits are issued for one year. (Maximum permitted weight will not exceed gross vehicle weight rating or Massachusetts maximum limits.) Non-reducible Load Permit are valid for five consecutive days. Pup Trailer Permits are issued for a 3-axle truck weighing up to 60,000 pounds, including cargo, to travel in combination with a 2-axle trailer, weighing up to 25,000 pounds, including cargo, with the combination length not to exceed 65 feet. The permit allows a combination to operate on state highways and throughways specified. Annual Permits The following can qualify for annual permits: Construction equipment on lo-bed trailers Truck (10 wheel or tri-axle): 60' long, 12' wide, 13' 6" high, registered weight. Tractors: 80' long, 12' wide, 13' 6" high, registered weight. Truck cranes: up to 95' long, maximum weight 130K lbs. Boats and trucks of boats: up to 80' long (depending on truck), 11' 6" wide, registered weight. FEES There is no fee for a Special Hauling Permit for vehicles that are under the following restrictions: 12' 0" Wide Load Banner & Flags (see Additional Requirements below) 13' 6" Height 99,000 lbs. Max 100' Long (Up to 80' long no escort is needed, see Additional Requirements below) If your vehicle exceeds the above restrictions, there is a $350.00 fee for the permit and you may require a State Police escort. A copy of a check payable to The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority must accompany the application. ESCORTS AND SIGNS When Escorts are Needed(on all highways) Length of 80' to 94' 11" Length over 94' 11" # Escorts 1 rear 2 front and rear Length 134' or more MA State Police & 2 Width 12' 1" and up dozer with blade attached Width 12' 1" to 13' 6" Width over 13' 6" Width over 14' 11" Height over 13' 8" Height over 13' 11" 2 front & rear 1 rear 2 front & rear MA State Police & 2 front & rear 1 front 2 front & rear MA-3 07/12
Height over 14' 11" Height over 13' 8" MA State Police & 2 front & rear Height survey Escorts on Cape Cod Width over 12' 0" # Escorts MA State Police & 1 escort Vehicle Requirements - Light truck or passenger care with two (2) flashing amber lights visible from front and rear. 24" square red flags on right and left rear and a sign reading "Oversize Load". Signs - An oversize vehicle which does not require an escort shall have a sign on rear reading "Oversize Load". Signs should be 7' long x 18" high. Letters should be at least 10" high with a 1.41" brush stroke. Letters should be black on yellow background. Flags - Flags must be red and at least 12' square. Mount on extremities and corners, required for overwidth and overlength vehicles. Certification Pilot Car Escort Certification is not currently required. Police Escort Requirements - In addition to the pilot car requirements as specified in 730 CMR 7.06 (4)(d), an over-size vehicle, with its load, that is higher than 13 feet 6 inches, wider than 12 feet, or longer than 100 feet, or weighing more than 130,000 lbs., must be escorted by a motor vehicle of the Massachusetts State Police. Any vehicle that is longer than 135 feet must be escorted by two motor vehicles of the Massachusetts State Police. FINES Fines are $40 per 1,000 lbs. for the first 10,000 lbs. or fraction thereof and $80 per 1,000 lbs. thereafter. RESTRICTED TRAVEL Route 93: Permit does not authorize travel on Route 93, south of Exit 30 in the City of Somerville or north of Exit 17/18 in the City of Boston. Route 93 (portion of Route 128 and Southeast Expressway): All over-dimensional and/or vehicles traveling under permit on that portion of Route 93 between Route 95 in Canton and Exit 21 in Boston (located south of the Dewey Square Tunnel) may travel only during daylight hours. Except that no such travel shall be allowed between 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. or between 3:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. However, vehicles up to 12 feet wide and/or up to 80 feet in length may also travel during the period from 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. Route 95 (Route 128): All over-dimensional and/or overweight vehicles traveling under permit on that portion of Route 95 between Canton and the intersection of Route 1 in Peabody may only travel during daylight hours. Except that no such travel shall be allowed between 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. or between 3:30 and 7:00 A.M. However, vehicles up to 12 feet wide and/or up to 80 feet in length may also travel during the period from 3:30 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. Allows Travel on I-90 (MASSPIKE) Between Interchanges 1 (New York State Line) thru Interchange 14 (Route 95/128) provided dimensions do not exceed 12 0 wide, 13 6 in height, 99,000 pounds and 80 0 in length. PORTS OF ENTRY Port Of Entry-Springfield Port Code: 0402 1145 Main Street - Room 221 Springfield, MA 01103 MA-4 07/12
General Phone: (413) 785-0365 General Fax: (413) 747-8940 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern) Service Port-Boston. Port Code: 0401 10 Causeway Street - Room 603 Boston, MA 02222 General Phone: (617) 565-6147 General Fax: (617) 565-6137 Port Of Entry-Fall River (New Bedford) Port Code: 0407 8:30 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern) 37 Second Street New Bedford, MA 02740 General Phone: (508) 994-5158 General Fax: (508) 979-1285 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern) Port Of Entry-Lawrence (Gloucester) Port Code: 0416 100 Cummings Center - Room 422A Beverly, MA 01915 General Phone: (978) 921-0782 General Fax: (978) 922-8312 8:00 AM-4:00 PM(Eastern) Port Of Entry-New Bedford Port Code: 0405 37 Second Street New Bedford, MA 02740 General Phone: (508) 994-5158 General Fax: (508) 979-1285 8:00 AM-5:00 PM(Eastern) MA-5 07/12
Port Of Entry-Gloucester Port Code: 0404 100 Cummings Center - Room 422A Beverly, MA 01915 General Phone: (978) 921-0782 General Fax: (978) 922-8312 8:00 AM-4:00 PM(Eastern) Port Of Entry-Logan Airport Port Code: 0417 500 Terminal E East Boston, MA 02128 General Phone: (617) 568-1810 General Fax: (617) 568-1813 Twenty Four (24) Hours A Day Seven Days A Week (7) PERMIT ORDERING Permit application is available on-line at http://www.mhd.state.ma.us. The process includes a PDF Permit Form, Login Help, FAQ, and System Requirements. You may download the application for Special Hauling Permit as a PDF (24KB) or a RTF (70KB) file. Please fax the application to (781) 431-5014 or return the application to: Department of Transportation John Driscoll Building 668 South Avenue Weston, MA 02493 Attn.: Permit Department SPECIAL NOTES Recent Changes 6/5/2012 - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation asked that we advise haulers of the following change: As of July 16, 2012, The MASSDOT Permit Department located at 14 Beach Street, Milford, MA will be relocated to MASSDOT Permit Department located at 668 South Avenue, Weston, MA (former MASS Turnpike Permit Office) New phone number will be: 781-431-5148 New fax number will be: 781-431-5014 New hours of operations will be: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:00pm Please be advised: Payment at this location will be "CHECKS ONLY" Pending Changes None Noted MA-6 07/12