Massachusetts oversize load rules
Legal limits, pilot car requirements, travel restrictions, superload thresholds and permit fees for oversize and overweight loads in Massachusetts.
Legal limits without a permit
| Width | 8′6″ |
|---|---|
| Height | 13′6″ (12′6″ in the Callahan and Sumner tunnels) |
| Length | 53′ semitrailer · 60′ other combinations · 40′ truck · 33′ other single vehicles |
| Weight | 80,000 lb gross; reducible-load permits to 99,000 lb on 5+ axles |
At a glance
| Escorts | 3 escort rules, starting at 12′ wide |
|---|---|
| Superload | 1 review trigger (weight) |
| Travel | 3 restrictions (curfews, night, holidays) |
| Fees | 4 published fee lines |
Escort (pilot car) requirements
- 3 width, height and length thresholds with the escort count for each
- Overhang and route-type conditions
Travel restrictions
- 3 restrictions: curfews, night travel, weekends and holidays
- Which ones apply to a given load size
Superloads
- Exact thresholds and what the state requires past them
- Lead times, route surveys and police escort conditions
Permit fees
- 4 published fee lines with links to the fee schedule
- Validity periods and add-on charges
Common questions
When does a load need an escort in Massachusetts?
MassDOT sets escort requirements, including State Police escorts, as conditions of each permit rather than by a published table. Expect escorts from about 12′ wide or 80′ long and confirm on the permit.
What is a superload in Massachusetts?
Any load over 130,000 lb gross. It needs engineering calculations and costs $300 per trip.
Can oversize loads travel on weekends in Massachusetts?
State highway windows run Monday 12:01 AM to Saturday noon and Sunday 12:01 AM to noon, subject to the permit.
Sources
- MassDOT commercial truck permits, height and weight limitations
- 700 CMR 8.00 (PDF)
- MassDOT commercial truck permits
Planning reference. Permits carry their own conditions, and city and county roads have separate rules. Confirm with the MassDOT Oversize/Overweight Truck Permits before moving a load. Found an error? Report it.
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