2024 Massachusetts Oversize Permits And Regulations

Contact (877) 792-5056 for Oversize Permits in Massachusetts.

Are you not sure whether your load requires shipping permits or not? Wide Load Shipping is the company to go to. We are familiar with the shipping requirements in Massachusetts and will inform you whether your load qualifies as oversize or overweight and acquire shipping permits for it. Below is more information on superloads, pilot cars, and legal limits.

Oversize Load Limits in Massachusetts

Massachusetts DOT legal load size and weight limitations:

• Length: 53 feet.
• Height: 13′ 6 feet.
• Weight: 8′ 6 feet.
• Overhang: 3′ in the front and 4′ off the rear.

When Pilot Cars Are Required in Massachusetts

Massachusetts DOT may require your shipment to have a pilot car(s) or escort vehicle(s) if you are over any of the following:

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS:

• Length: 80′ – 94′ 11″ in length will require you to have 1 rear pilot car/escort. If over 94′ 11″ you are required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car. If you are over 134′ in length you will be required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car as well as a police escort.
• Width: Shipments that are from 12′ 1″ and up to 13′ 6″  wide require 1 rear escort vehicle unless you are shipping a dozer. A dozer requires 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort vehicle. For shipments in excess of 13′ 6″, you are required to have 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort on all roads.
• Height:  If your shipment is in excess of  13′ 8″ you are required to have a high pole survey. If your shipment is over 14′ 11″ you are required to have 1 front pilot car with a high pole and 1 rear escort with a police escort.
• Weight: Depending on your route and if you can maintain the minimum required posted speed limits you will more than likely not be required to have a pilot car or escort vehicle by the Massachusetts DOT.
• Overhang: If you have over 4′ of rear overhang consisting of long materials like poles, boat masts, and booms you will be required to have 1 rear escort vehicle. If you have equipment with an overhang in excess of 10′ or more you will be required to have 1 rear escort vehicle.

NOTES: If the routing on your shipment will take you through tunnels, you will be required to have at a minimum 1 rear escort vehicle if over 8′ 6″ – 12′ wide.

MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKES:

• Length:  If your shipment is over 80′ but under 85′ you are required to have 1 rear escort vehicle. If your shipment is over 85′ but less than 135 feet’, you must have 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort vehicle. If your shipment is in excess of 135 feet, you will be required to have 1 front pilot car, 1 rear escort vehicle, and 2 police escorts.
• Width: If your shipment is in excess of 12 feet’ you will be required to have 1 rear escort vehicle. If your shipment is in excess of 13′ wide, you will be required to have 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort vehicle. If your shipment is in excess of 15 feet’ you will be required to have 1 front pilot car and 1 rear escort vehicle plus 2 police escorts.
• Height: We have found no reference to pilot car high pole requirements on the Massachusetts Turnpike. If you have any information, please help others by commenting below.
• Weight: Weight restrictions are handled on a case-by-case basis for the Massachusetts Turnpike.
• Overhang: 1 rear escort is required if you have an overhang in excess of 4′ that is skinny in nature, like a long pole, boat mast, etc. If the overhang is in excess of 10′ but not skinny in nature, you will be required to have 1 rear escort vehicle.

NOTES: The turnpike can do pretty much whatever they want, so if you find your trip requirements modified from what you expected, then that is just the way it is. You could always appeal the decision. For items such as drivable cranes and booms up to about 12′ in width, you are usually required to have 1 rear escort vehicle.

In Boston, if you are overweight or oversize, you will most likely be required to have, at a minimum, 1 pilot car/escort vehicle and 1 police escort.

What’s the Cost of Trucking Permits In Massachusetts?

Here is the cost of overweight and oversize trucking permits in Massachusetts. Our specialists are always ready to help you acquire the right single or annual permit for your load. Call us at (877) 792-5056.

• Single trip permit in Massachusetts: $40
• Annual overweight permit:$400 (construction vehicles only)
• Superload permits: $300

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Cities in Massachusetts;

Boston, MA; Worcester, MA; Springfield, MA; Lowell, MA; Cambridge, MA; Newton, MA; Fall River, MA; New Bedford, MA; Quincy, MA; Brockton, MA; Somerville, MA; Lawrence, MA; Framingham, MA; Haverhill, MA; Waltham, MA; Malden, MA; Plymouth, MA; Brookline, MA; Medford, MA; Weymouth Town, MA; Taunton, MA;

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Counties in Massachusetts;

Middlesex County; Worcester County; Essex County; Suffolk County; Norfolk County; Bristol County; Plymouth County; Hampden County; Barnstable County; Hampshire County; Berkshire County ; Franklin County; Dukes County; Nantucket County

Oversize and Overweight Permit Limits in Massachusetts

Here’s the maximum weight and dimensions your load can be, even with a permit in Massachusetts:

• Max Length With Permit: 115 feet.
• Max Overhang With Permit: Case by case basis.
• Maximum Width With Permit: 14’11 feet.
• Maximum Height With Permit: 14’11 feet.
• Maximum Weight With Permit: 130,000 lbs.

NOTES: Any loads over 13′ 8″ are going to require a route survey unless it is the main road routing with simplicity. There is no fee for a special handling permit for vehicles that are under the following restrictions: 12′ 0″ wide, 13′ 6″ height, 99,000 lbs maximum, 100′ in length.

Pilot Cars Certifications & Requirements in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts DOT maintains that pilot cars and escort vehicles meet the following:

Massachusetts DOT requires all escort vehicles to have;

• 2 flashing or strobing amber lights are visible from both the front and the rear of the vehicle
• 2 safety-colored red or orange flags mounted to the vehicle that is no less than 24″ square in shape
• at least one sight that states “OVERSIZE LOAD” mounted and visible from either the front or the rear of the vehicle, depending if you are piloting (front) or escorting (rear).

Superload Information in Massachusetts

Massachusetts superload information:

For shipments in excess of 130,000 lbs depending on your route, you may be classified as a superload. We need more superload information on this state if you can share your superload experience with the Massachusetts DOT we’d sure appreciate it. See below for easy comments.

Permitted Travel Times and Restrictions for Oversize Loads in Massachusetts

Massachusetts DOT travel time and restrictions for oversize and overweight shipments:

Daylight hours are defined as from sunrise to sunset. You are permitted to travel Monday morning from 12’01 am until 12 noon on Saturday morning during the daylight hours. That includes shipments between the width of 12′ and 14′, over 80′ in length (but not over 115′), and over 14′ in height except from 3:30 PM until 7 PM due to traffic density on Mondays through Fridays. Shipments over 14′ wide and over 115′ in length are permitted to travel only between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM and may travel only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Additional restrictions may apply depending on your routing, so be sure to refer to the documentation on your physical permit before commencing movement.  You may not travel on any of these holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Shipment, Truck, and Trailer Markings in Massachusetts

Truck, trailer, and shipment required signs, banners, and flags in Massachusetts:

An oversize load sign should be placed on the rear of the trailer or load, whichever is appropriate. The dimensions for this sign should be no less than 7′ in length x 18″ in height with a yellow background, black letters with a line thickness of no less than 1 1/2″ thick, and letters no less than 10″ in height. Safety colored red or orange flags are required at a minimum of the 4 most outer extreme corners and be no less than 18″ in length in any direction.

MORE USEFUL RESOURCES:

Massachusetts Road Closure