OVERVIEW
PERMITS: Massachusetts oversize permits are valid for five travel days. Must have permit prior to entering the state.
OPERATING TIME: Generally, vehicles under 12′ wide and under 14′ high may travel from Monday morning 12:01 am through noon on Saturday and Sunday from 12:01 am until noon. Vehicles between 12′ and 14′ wide, over 13′-11″ in height, and over 80′ long (but not over 114′ long) are only permitted for travel sunrise to sunset Monday through Friday except no travel allowed between 7:00 am – 9:00 am or between 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm.
RESTRICTED TRAVEL: No travel on major holidays, and some holiday weekends. Routes 95 and 93 in the Boston area are restricted to travel only between 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Massachusetts Turnpike: Between NY line and I-95, no permit is required up to 10′ wide, legal weight, and up to 80′ long. Turnpike permits are issued for vehicles and loads up to 12′ wide, 13′-9″ high, 80′ long, and up to 99,000 pounds. (Lower limits apply to the Sumner, Callahan and Ted Williams Tunnels in the Boston area.) Permits to exceed these dimensions on the Turnpike require special engineering approval plus a $350.00 fee. Vehicles/loads over 12′ wide, over 100′ long or over 130,000 gross requires a police escort. The Turnpike phone number is: 781-431-5148.
LEGAL DIMENSIONS
Length: 53′ semi-trailer on Interstate and designated highways.
Width: 8′-6″
Height: 13′-6″
Weight: 80,000 Gross
- Single – 24,000 designated highways (22,400 other roads)
- Tandem – 34,000
- Tridem – 36,000
ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS
Length: 115′
Width: 14′-11″
Height: 14′-11″ (Over 13′-8″ requires a height survey)
Weight: 130,000 pounds gross (see note below). Single, Tandem, Tridem – Depends on axle spacings
Loads exceeding these dimensions are treated as super loads. Over 130,000 pounds gross requires engineering company survey of structures. This can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the route and number of structures!
Note: the maximum superload width in Massachusetts is 16 feet.
ESCORTS
Length:
- Over 80′ – one escort
- Over 95′ – two escorts
- 115′ or more – two State Police escorts
- 134′ or more – state police plus two escorts
Width:
- Over 12′ – one escort
- Over 13′-6″ – two escorts
- Over 14′-11″ – two escorts plus state police
Height:
- Over 13′-8″ – route/height survey plus one front escort
- Over 13′-11″ – (depending on route) – two escorts
- Over 14′-11″ – 2 front escorts plus state police escort
Signs, Flags, and Lights: “Oversize Load” sign required on rear of an oversize vehicle that does not require an escort. Mount red flags on extremities and corners for any over-width or over-length vehicle. For all O/D loads made during hours of darkness, a flashing amber light shall be in operation above the highest point of the vehicle and visible from the front and rear of the vehicle.