The Commonwealth issues some 50,000 permits annually to allow oversized vehicles to travel within Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) provides a web-based application to support the processing, tracking, notification and issuance of truck permits for Loads in Excess of Legal limits (Non-Reducible). The Online Truck Permit System is designed to improve the level of customer service and overall responsiveness for Non-Reducible permit services.

Find more information on Truck Permits or Access the Online Truck Permit System.

If your trip includes travel on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), please continue reading the information in the next section.

Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and the Metropolitan Highway System

For commercial vehicle information on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and the Metropolitan Highway System, refer to the following for regulations, limitations, hazardous material routes, truck stops, tandem lots and more.

Truck Regulations

Complete information on regulations pertaining to Special Limitations and the Issuance of Special Permits may be found in the provisions of 730 CMR 7.06(3)(b)2. or 3.

Weight and Dimension Restrictions

The following applies to use of ways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation:

Limitations on Weight

In general, circumstances under which a special permit is required are as follows:

• A motor vehicle or vehicle combination requires a special permit if the vehicles weight exceeds the following maximum vehicle weight:
  • Motor vehicle with two axles - 46,000 lbs.
  • Vehicle or vehicle combination with three axles - 73,000 lbs.
  • Vehicle or vehicle combination with four or more axles - 87,000 lbs.
  • Vehicle or vehicle combination with five or more axles - 99,000 lbs.
• A motor vehicle or vehicle combination requires a special permit if the weight on any axle, measured at the ground, exceeds the following maximum weight for the applicable spacing between axles of the vehicle:
  • Weight on a single axle or axles spaced less than six feet apart: 18,000 lbs.
  • Weight on a single axle or axles spaced six feet or more apart: 22,400 lbs. or
  • The overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles exceeds 80,000 pounds or the value of "W" produced by application of the Bridge Gross Weight Formula, whichever is less, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each, provided that the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more.

Over Dimensional Restrictions:

A vehicle does not require a special permit with respect to its size if the vehicle does not exceed any of the following maximum dimensions:

Vehicle Width

• Width, including load is no greater than eight feet, six inches for use of the Tunnels.
• Height, including load, is no greater than thirteen feet for use of a way other than the Tunnels

Vehicle Height

Height, including load, is no greater than the following maximum vehicle height for the way upon which the vehicle is traveling:

Vehicle Length

Note: Please refer to 730 C.M.R. 7.06(4) for more detail regarding this regulation. This information is subject to Revisions. Please consult an official version of Code of Massachusetts Regulations for complete information.

Important Hazardous Cargo/Material Route Direction

ALL Hazardous Cargo ("HC") and Cargo Tankers are prohibited from the Boston Tunnels (underground highway system).

Hazardous Cargo MUST EXIT INTERSTATE 93 NORTH AT EXIT 18 and INTERSTATE 93 SOUTH AT EXIT 26.

There are HC trailblazers through the City of Boston to direct HC off Interstate 93 North and South prior to entering the Tunnels and back on to Interstate 93.

The Hazardous Cargo/Material trailblazer routes are:

Southbound I-93 Boston Hazardous Cargo/Material Tunnel Detour

• Take I-93 South bound to exit 26 (Storrow Dr./North Station)
• From exit 26, take a right onto Nashua St inbound (towards the TD Garden)
• From Nashua St. take a left onto Lomasney Way
• From Lomasney Way, take a left onto Causeway St.
• Follow Causeway St., go past the TD Garden
• Continue Straight across No. Washington Street and onto Commercial Street.
• Follow Commercial Street around and continue straight across Atlantic Avenue
• Turn Left onto Surface Road (Surface Artery Southbound)
• Follow Surface Rd. southbound (turns into Purchase St.)
• Continue on Purchase St. southbound until it becomes Surface Rd. again.
• Continue straight on Surface Rd.
• At Surface Rd and Kneeland St. proceed south onto Albany Street Extension
• Enter 93 Southbound at Albany Street/Herald Street intersection.

Northbound I-93 Boston Hazardous Cargo/Material Tunnel Detour

• Take I-93 Northbound to exit 18 (Mass. Ave)
• From exit 18 continue north on Frontage Rd. to the intersection of Frontage and Broadway.
• Proceed north onto the South Station/Downtown on ramp.
• At the end of the ramp proceed straight onto Atlantic Ave northbound.
• Follow Atlantic Ave northbound, at Christopher Columbus Park turn right onto Commercial Street.
• Follow Commercial Street around and turn Right onto No Washington Street
• Stay Straight on No. Washington Street through Charlestown-No. Washington Turns into Rutherford Avenue.
• Continue straight onto Rutherford Avenue towards Sullivan Square.
• At the Sullivan Square follow the signs around to I-93 (this is Mystic Avenue)
• Follow Mystic Avenue northbound to the I-93 North on ramp at Assembly Square (Home Depot).
• Proceed onto I-93 Northbound adjacent to the Assembly Square on-ramp in Somerville.

For more information about hazardous material, please visit the regulations page at the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Web site.

Trucking Permits

The Massachusetts Turnpike and the Metropolitan Highway System are primary arteries for trucking companies in Massachusetts. In 1997, trucks accounted for 13 percent of the vehicle miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike and 5 percent of the vehicle miles on the Boston Extension in the Metropolitan Highway System.

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.

For information on permits and regulations regarding trucking on the MassPike, the Boston Extension and in the Sumner/Callahan and Ted Williams tunnels, call (508) 473-4755; fax, (508) 473-0865. Permits are available at the MassDOT Permits Office, 14 Beach St., Milford, MA, Monday - Friday 8:45am to 5:00pm. Please note customers needing a permit must be in line by 4:30pm to have permits processed the same day. Payments are accepted by check only - cash and credit cards are not accepted.

Special Hauling Permit

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 MassDOT must accompany the application.

Additional Requirements:

• Requirements for vehicles over 80' long:
  • One private escort is required for vehicles from 80'1" to 85'
  • Two private escorts are required for vehicles from 85'1" to 100'
• Requirements for vehicles traveling in the tunnels:
  • Wide Loads from 8'6" to 12' must have private escort(s)

You may download the application for Special Hauling Permit as a PDF (24KB) or a RTF (70KB) file.

Please fax the application to (508) 473-0865 or return the application to:

Tandem Trailer Trucks

Tandem trailer trucks are allowed on both the MassPike and the Boston Extension. To facilitate the use of tandems, the Turnpike Authority maintains four tandem trailer parking lots between Springfield and Weston:

• Springfield - located adjacent to Interchange 6 with 35 parking spaces
• Millbury - located adjacent to Interchange 11 with 16 parking spaces - Advisory: This lot will be closed temporarily, details below.
• Weston - located just after the Interchange 14 eastbound toll plaza with 19 parking spaces
• Weston - located just before the Interchange 14 westbound toll plaza with 34 parking spaces

However, no large tandem trailers are allowed past the tandem trailer lot in Weston at Interchange 14.

Small tandem trailers are allowed on the Boston Extension from that point to I-93 in downtown Boston.

No tandem trailers of any size are allowed inside the Sumner/Callahan and Ted Williams tunnels.